How Everyday Habits Quietly Expose Us to Toxins
By Dr. Jeffrey A. Morrison
In Part 1 of this series, we explored how plastics, originally hailed as a miracle material, have become one of the most serious environmental and health threats of our time. We examined the science behind plastic persistence, the rise of microplastics, and the growing concerns around hormone-disrupting chemicals called plasticizers.
But this crisis isn’t just about floating garbage islands or faraway marine life. The plastic problem is personal.
Today, we’ll take a closer look at how modern life, especially the conveniences we rely on every day, quietly exposes us to plastic-based toxins. From the moment we wake up to the time we go to bed, our routine is saturated with plastics. And most of us don’t even realize it.
Plastic in the Mirror: Your Day, Reimagined
Let’s walk through a typical weekday, from morning to night, and examine how plastic and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) make their way into our bodies, not just through packaging, but also through personal care products, clothing, and even the air we breathe.
Morning: Where It Begins
You wake up and head to the bathroom for a quick shower.
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Your body wash? It comes in a plastic bottle and often contains synthetic fragrances, many of which are phthalates.
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Your shampoo and conditioner? More plastic containers, possibly with preservatives and parabens (also EDCs).
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You brush your teeth with a plastic toothbrush and toothpaste in a plastic tube, often with triclosan, another known hormone disruptor.
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You apply moisturizer, lotion, or sunscreen—many of which contain BPA derivatives and other chemicals designed to absorb into the skin.
All before breakfast, you’ve already encountered a dozen potential exposures to plastics and plasticizers.
Commute and Coffee: A Sip of Convenience
You stop for your usual iced matcha or coffee. It’s served in:
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A plastic-lined paper cup,
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With a plastic lid,
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And a plastic straw.
Most takeaway cups contain polyethylene linings that leach microplastics when heated. Even so-called “compostable” cups can contain bioplastics that behave similarly in the body.
You drink that beverage while driving, holding your reusable water bottle. In which, unless it’s stainless steel or glass, may be made of polycarbonate plastics that leach BPA, especially if it’s been in a hot car or dishwasher.
Work and Meals: Exposure by the Hour
Lunch arrives, usually in:
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A plastic takeout container,
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Sealed with a plastic lid,
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Accompanied by plastic utensils and a plastic bag.
You reheat your food in that container (hello, chemical migration). You might grab another drink in a plastic bottle, which may have been sitting in a warm delivery truck for hours.
You also breathe indoor air filled with microplastic dust, especially in offices filled with synthetic carpets, textiles, and HVAC systems.
Throughout the day, you use:
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Hand sanitizer with ethanol and plasticizers in plastic bottles
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Pens, devices, keyboards—all made with PVCs and phthalates
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Food, coffee, and snacks from packaging that leaches plastic particles or residues
The most unsettling part? You don’t see any of this. It’s invisible, tasteless, and normalized. Yet it accumulates in your body over time.
Evening: Rinse and Repeat
After work, you might hit the gym. That protein shake you grab? It’s in a plastic tub or single-use shaker. The gym floor is likely rubberized or synthetic turf—another source of airborne microplastics. You stretch on a yoga mat made from PVC or polyurethane foam.
When you get home:
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You cook dinner with vegetables wrapped in plastic packaging
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You cover leftovers with plastic wrap
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You store them in plastic containers
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You may light a scented candle or spray a “clean” room fragrance. Again, potential sources of phthalates and synthetic compounds
Finally, you go to bed in pajamas made of polyester blends, which shed microfibers into the air and bedding.
The Accumulated Load: What Science Says
While a single exposure might not be alarming, science shows that these exposures add up—and may have lasting effects.
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The average adult consumes up to 5 grams of plastic per week, roughly the weight of a credit card.
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Bottled water drinkers ingest as many as 90,000 microplastic particles a year, compared to about 4,000 from filtered tap water.
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Chewing gum can release hundreds to thousands of microplastic fragments into your mouth with each piece.
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Microplastics have now been found in human lungs, liver, bloodstream, placenta, and even brain and ovarian fluid.
These plastic-based chemicals have been linked to:
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Hormonal imbalances
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Fertility issues and pregnancy complications
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Metabolic disorders like insulin resistance and fatty liver
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Cognitive and behavioral problems in children
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Immune disruption and chronic inflammation
Polystyrene nanoplastics, in particular, have been shown in recent studies to cause liver injury and impair glucose regulation in animal models.
The CDC reports that:
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BPA is found in 93% of Americans over age 6
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Phthalates and parabens are present in 98% of urine samples, including in children
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These plasticizers have been detected in breast milk, cord blood, and placental tissue
What makes these findings so concerning is the silent nature of their effects—often accumulating without any immediate symptoms, while disrupting key systems over time.
Why It Matters
We’ve normalized a lifestyle that relies on plastics at nearly every touchpoint. But normal doesn’t mean harmless.
As a functional medicine physician, I help patients uncover the root causes of fatigue, weight gain, chronic inflammation, autoimmune issues, and hormonal imbalances. Time and again, we find that toxic load plays a role. Plastic exposure is part of that load—persistent, cumulative, and under-recognized.
We didn’t evolve to process these synthetic materials. They weren’t part of human biology for 99.9% of our existence.
But once we’re aware of the problem, we can start changing the pattern.
What Comes Next?
This is Part 2 of our Plastics Awareness Series. In Part 1, we explored the history, science, and global impact of plastics. In this post, we uncovered the hidden, everyday sources of exposure—and why they matter to your health.
In Part 3, we’ll move into action.
👉 “From Harm to Healing: 12 Smart Swaps to Break Free from Plastic Dependency”
You’ll learn exactly what to replace, how to shop smarter, and what steps we’ve taken at The Morrison Center to reduce plastic exposure in real life.
“Awareness is the first step toward change. What you do with it is the beginning of transformation.” — Dr. Morrison
Let’s keep going. Because even small changes, made daily, can shift your body’s burden, and reshape our future.
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