Microplastics in Disguise: Where Microplastics Are Hiding In Our Everyday Life
Microplastics in Disguise: Where Microplastics Are Hiding In Our Everyday Life
Author: Team Grove
You know your favorite bubble tea? Those little boba pearls at the bottom might contain microplastics.
Microplastics are everywhere — and we mean everywhere. Not just floating in oceans or clogging up landfills, but hiding out in things you’d never expect. From your wardrobe to your gum to the paper straw in your drink, these tiny plastic invaders are becoming too close for comfort.
And the worst part? Most of us have no idea.
What are microplastics?
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than 5 millimeters long (basically the size of a sesame seed or smaller). They come from larger plastic items breaking down — or are manufactured intentionally (think microbeads) for personal care products like face washes and other household products.¹
But these days, the real trouble comes from the sneaky ways microplastics enter our daily routines. They’re not just a problem out in the ocean. They’re right here, in our homes and our bodies.
These are the sneaky sources nobody's talking about
Ready to be surprised? Here are some common everyday items that might have microplastic villains in disguise:
Boba pearls
Some commercially produced tapioca pearls have been found to contain plasticizers or other synthetic additives. The Plastic List flags boba as a potential microplastic exposure with levels of DEHP being found.²Chewing gum
That chew that lasts forever? It’s thanks to a plastic base. Most mainstream gum uses synthetic rubber (aka plastic) as the core ingredient to achieve the chewiness.³Cigarette butts
They’re the most littered item on the planet — and they’re made of plastic. Each filter is a tightly packed bundle of cellulose acetate, a type of plastic that never fully breaks down.⁴Clothing
Polyester, nylon, acrylic — if your clothes are made of synthetic fabrics, they shed microfibers with every wash.⁵ Those fibers head straight to our waterways and the ocean.Tea bags
Some tea bags are made with nylon or PET mesh.⁶ Because they must be steeped in high temperatures of water, they release microplastics into your cup.Takeout containers & plastic caps
Styrofoam, plastic lids, and food packaging can all leach microplastics — especially when heated.⁷ That to-go soup container? Might be serving up a side of plastic.Household dust
Studies have shown that household dust can be loaded with microplastics from furniture, carpets, cleaning products — even the air around us.⁸
Why this matters: human and planetary health
Microplastics have been found in our blood, lungs, and even placentas.⁹ Scientists are still figuring out the long-term effects, but early signs point to hormone disruption, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease, as well as other serious health issues.¹⁰
And of course, microplastics are a nightmare for the planet. Marine life eats them. Soil absorbs them. They disrupt the ecosystems we live and grow our crops in. They’re even showing up in remote Arctic snow.¹¹
What you can do
Before you feel overwhelmed (we get it!), here are some easy steps to help keep microplastics out of your life — and the environment:
Switch to natural fiber clothing like organic cotton, linen, silk, hemp, and bamboo
Use a microfiber filter or bag when washing synthetic clothing or materials
Choose loose-leaf tea or tea that comes in compostable bags
Try plastic-free or natural gum
Swap single-use straws for reusable ones made of stainless steel or silicone
Be mindful with takeout and leftovers — remove food from its plastic containers before you reheat to avoid leaching
Ditch the boba or at least look into plastic-free alternatives
Grove’s commitment: Beyond Plastic™
At Grove, we go deep on ingredients, materials, and packaging — because the things you can’t see are often the most dangerous. That’s why:
Every Grove Co. product is evaluated against our Beyond Plastic™ standards
We avoid over 50+ “No Way” ingredients in our products and packaging
We’re committed to plastic-neutral shipping and have removed over 17 million pounds of plastic from the environment
It’s not about perfect — it’s about progress
Microplastics are tricky and knowing they are in so many places can be scary, but that’s not a reason to give up. It's a reason to stay informed and keep pushing forward. You don’t have to overhaul your entire life overnight. Start with one swap and then another. Before you know it, you’re on your way to a more conscious home.
Your choices matter. For your home, your health, and our shared home planet.
Sources
1 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Microplastics research. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/water-research/microplastics-research#:~:text=Plastics%20have%20become%20pervasive%20in,and%20human%20and%20animal%20tissue.
2 PlasticList. (2025). Data on plastic chemicals in Bay Area foods. PlasticList.org. Accessed May 06, 2025. https://www.plasticlist.org/
3 American Chemical Society. (2025, March). Chewing gum can shed microplastics into saliva, pilot study finds. ACS PressPac. https://www.acs.org/pressroom/presspacs/2025/march/chewing-gum-can-shed-microplastics-into-saliva-pilot-study-finds.html
4 Soltani, M., Shahsavani, A., Hopke, P. K., Alavi Bakhtiarvand, N., Abtahi, M., Rahmatinia, M., & Kermani, M. (2025). Investigating the inflammatory effect of microplastics in cigarette butts on peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Scientific Reports, 15, 458. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-84784-4#Sec19
5 Dalla Fontana, G., Mossotti, R., & Montarsolo, A. (2020). Assessment of microplastics release from polyester fabrics: The impact of different washing conditions. Environmental Pollution, 264, 113960. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.113960
6 Ali, T., Habib, A., Muskan, F., Mumtaz, S., & Shams, R. (2023). Health risks posed by microplastics in tea bags: Microplastic pollution – a truly global problem. International Journal of Surgery, 109(3), 515–516. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10389239/
7 Li, Y., Liu, C., Yang, H., He, W., Li, B., Zhu, X., Liu, S., Jia, S., Li, R., & Tang, K. H. D. (2024). Leaching of chemicals from microplastics: A review of chemical types, leaching mechanisms and influencing factors. Science of The Total Environment, 906, 167666. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969723062939
8 Zhang, J., Wang, L., & Kannan, K. (2020). Microplastics in house dust from 12 countries and associated human exposure. Environment International, 134, 105314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.105314
9 Ragusa, A., Svelato, A., Santacroce, C., Catalano, P., Notarstefano, V., Carnevali, O., Papa, F., Rongioletti, M. C. A., Baiocco, F., Draghi, S., D'Amore, E., Rinaldo, D., Matta, M., & Giorgini, E. (2021). Plasticenta: First evidence of microplastics in human placenta. Environment International, 146, 106274. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412020322297?via%3Dihub
10 Hyman, S., Acevedo, J., Giannarelli, C., & Trasande, L. (2025). Phthalate exposure from plastics and cardiovascular disease: global estimates of attributable mortality and years life lost. eBioMedicine, 102, 105051. Retrieved June 23, 2025, from https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(25)00174-4/fulltext
11 Bergmann, M., Collard, F., Fabres, J., Gabrielsen, G. W., Provencher, J. F., Rochman, C. M., van Sebille, E., & Tekman, M. B. (2022). Plastic pollution in the Arctic. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 3, 323–337.https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-022-00279-8
