Researchers may have found an effective, green way to remove microplastics from our water using readily available plant materials. Their device was found to capture up to 99.9% of a wide variety of microplastics known to pose a health risk to humans.
Microplastics and other pollutants from plastics production are endocrine disruptors This is believed to affect your metabolism, body temperature, fertility, thyroid and immune system. Co-pollutants from plastic exposure such as heavy metals have extensive and well known health effects. PVC (found in residential plumbing and consumer goods such as vinyl records) are notoriously toxic and off gas for years, releasing several potent carcinogens and heavy metals into the environment. Source 1 source 2
Microplastics, and several types of plastics in general, are well understood to have significant health effects.