INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Plastic isn’t just an issue for the environment. It’s a problem for our health too. Studies show microscopic pieces and chemicals such as bisphenol A  and phthalates can end up in our bodies.

“So, these chemicals are not bound within the product to something that would make it inert or unable to move out of the product.”

A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine looked at plaque removed from the carotid arteries of 257 people. More than half had measurable levels of microplastics and in checkups in the years to follow, there was a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and death in that group. Microplastics have also been linked to many other health issues. So, what can you do to protect yourself?

“It is about really educating yourself on what the sources are and then what are the alternatives to those products,”

Here are some helpful tips: use glass, ceramics, or paper plates in the microwave, not plastic containers.
Buy plastics labeled “b-p-a free.” and avoid plastics with recycle codes of three or seven – those are sometimes made with BPA.

Doctors say microplastics can sometimes be found in beauty and skincare items. They also recommend avoiding “highly processed” meals like chicken nuggets. They say to heat up baby formula in glass containers instead of plastic bottles.

This story was created from a script aired on WISH-TV. Health Spotlight is presented by Community Health Network.