Microplastics are in our water, our food, and now, scientists have confirmed they're in our bodies. They are everywhere, and we are consuming them every single day.
While research on the direct health impacts is still developing, the evidence for concern is clear. These plastic fragments act as carriers for toxic chemical additives—like phthalates and heavy metals—which are linked to serious health issues, including cancers and hormonal disruption. Furthermore, laboratory studies suggest the particles themselves have the potential to trigger chronic inflammation and cellular damage, and have been shown to cross critical biological barriers, including the blood-brain barrier. New human studies have now linked the presence of these particles directly to an increased risk of severe cardiovascular events and dementia. Given the scale of our exposure and the effectively permanent nature of this contamination, the precautionary principle must apply: we must act now to reduce our exposure to protect the health of current and future generations.
One of the primary ways microplastics enter our bodies is through the food and drinks we buy at the grocery store, often contaminated by their own packaging. It's time for our federal policies to catch up with the science and address this problem at the source. By signing this petition, you are calling on the Minister of Environment and the Minister of Health to take common-sense, decisive action. We are demanding policies that reduce plastic packaging, update our food safety laws, and invest in safer alternatives.
Let's demand a future where our food is safe and our environment is clean. Add your name.