Plastic Chemicals in Our Bodies: Surprising Changes in Just 7 Days
Kopīgot
How to Reduce Exposure to Plastic-Related Chemicals
Plastic is everywhere, from kitchens and beauty products to food packaging and the air around us.
A 2026 Australian study reported that chemicals associated with plastic production were detected in every participant. However, levels of some chemicals fell after participants changed a few everyday habits for just seven days.
Dr. Gabriele Balciunaite Murziene, a biomedical scientist and phytopharmacology expert, explains what the study found, which changes appeared to make the biggest difference, and what the results could mean for everyday life.
What Did the Study Investigate?
The study, published in Nature Medicine in April 2026, included 211 participants.
Researchers detected traces of chemicals used in plastic production in every participant. The study focused mainly on:
- Phthalates
- Bisphenols, including BPA and BPF
- Other chemicals used in plastic production
Some of these chemicals are considered endocrine disruptors, meaning they may interfere with the way hormones function in the body.
How Do Plastic-Related Chemicals Enter the Body?
According to the researchers, common sources of exposure may include:
- Food packaged in plastic
- Canned foods
- Plastic bottles and food-storage containers
- Heating food in plastic containers
- Cosmetics and personal-care products
- Household dust and air
More than 16,000 chemicals are used in plastic production, which makes completely avoiding exposure extremely difficult.
How Was the Seven-Day Experiment Set Up?
Of the 211 study participants, 60 took part in a separate seven-day experiment. They were divided into five groups of 12 people.
Group 1: Food With Less Plastic Contact
Participants focused on reducing the amount of contact between their food and plastic.
Group 2: Less Plastic Contact and Plastic-Free Kitchen Tools
Participants reduced food contact with plastic and avoided plastic kitchen tools, containers, and utensils.
Group 3: Personal-Care Product Changes
This group changed only its cosmetics, shampoo, hygiene products, and other personal-care items.
Group 4: Combined Lifestyle Changes
Participants reduced plastic exposure from food packaging, kitchen tools, containers, cosmetics, and personal-care products at the same time.
Group 5: Control Group
Participants in the control group made no changes. They continued using their usual food packaging, containers, personal-care products, and daily routines.
This structure allowed researchers to compare the effects of changing everyday habits with the effects of making no changes.
What Changes Did Participants Make?
The researchers considered many possible sources of plastic exposure, including small details in everyday kitchen routines.
Participants were encouraged to:
- Replace plastic kitchen tools with wooden, metal, or glass alternatives
- Keep food away from plastic where possible
- Heat food in glass containers instead of plastic
- Replace some plastic food-storage products
- Reduce the use of plastic dishes, utensils, and cutting boards
The aim was not to eliminate plastic completely, but to reduce everyday contact with it as much as reasonably possible.
What Did the Study Find?
After only seven days, levels of some plastic-related chemicals decreased significantly.
The most notable reported findings included:
- Bisphenol F, or BPF, levels fell by up to 60%
- Levels of some phthalates also decreased
These results suggest that some plastic-related chemicals may not remain in the body for long periods. Their measured levels may respond relatively quickly to changes in a person’s environment and daily habits.
What Had the Biggest Impact on Plastic Exposure?
Researchers identified several patterns associated with higher levels of plastic-related chemicals.
Ultra-Processed Foods
Participants who ate more ultra-processed foods tended to have higher exposure to some plastic-related chemicals.
Food Packaged in Plastic
Plastic food packaging appeared to be one of the most important potential sources of exposure.
Canned Foods
The inner lining used in some food cans may contribute to exposure to bisphenols.
Frequent Use of Plastic Kitchen Products
Plastic food containers, dishes, cutting boards, utensils, and other kitchen items were also associated with higher levels of some plastic-related chemicals.
Can Cosmetics Increase Phthalate Exposure?
The study found links between levels of some phthalates and the use of products such as:
- Cosmetics
- Shampoos
- Makeup products
- Other fragranced personal-care products
Artificial fragrance, commonly listed on product labels as parfum or fragrance, may be one possible source of phthalates.
What Happened in the Control Group?
Participants in the control group made no changes to their routines. During the seven-day period, levels of some plastic-related chemicals increased rather than decreased.
Researchers reported that:
- Mono-n-butyl phthalate levels increased by approximately 40%
- Monobenzyl phthalate levels increased by approximately 55%
This finding suggests that exposure to these chemicals may be continuous in everyday life.
How Can You Reduce Plastic Exposure at Home?
Living completely plastic-free is unrealistic for most people. However, the study suggests that small, practical changes may help reduce exposure to some plastic-related chemicals.
Simple steps may include:
- Avoid heating food in plastic containers
- Use glass or stainless-steel food containers more often
- Replace plastic cutting boards with wooden or other suitable alternatives
- Choose a glass or metal reusable water bottle
- Eat fewer canned foods
- Limit ultra-processed foods
- Use wooden, metal, or silicone kitchen utensils where appropriate
- Choose cosmetics and personal-care products with fewer artificial fragrances
What Are the Limitations of the Study?
Although the findings are promising, the researchers identified several important limitations.
The study could not:
- Measure exactly how much exposure came from food consumed by the control group
- Determine whether the results differed between women and men because the experimental groups were small
- Establish a direct link between the detected chemicals and specific health conditions
The results should therefore not be interpreted as proof that plastic exposure directly causes a particular disease.
What Can We Learn From the Study?
The study highlights two important findings.
- Chemicals associated with plastic production can be detected in people’s bodies.
- Small changes to food storage, cooking habits, packaging choices, and personal-care products may reduce levels of some chemicals within a relatively short period.
This is not a reason to fear plastic or immediately discard every plastic item at home. Instead, it suggests that practical everyday choices may help reduce unnecessary exposure.
How food is stored, what it is heated in, how often ultra-processed or canned foods are consumed, and which personal-care products are used may matter more than previously understood.