Plastic is literally everywhere. If you tried to go a day avoiding it, you probably wouldn’t get past one hour, especially if you wear contacts or eyeglasses. But we’re not just interacting with plastic; it’s ending up inside our bodies.
According to a 2025 review published in Cureus, microplastics (tiny plastic particles ranging in size from 1 micrometer to 5 millimeters) can be found in human blood, placental tissue and gastrointestinal samples. That’s pretty alarming.
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It’s clear that teeny tiny bits of plastic are ending up inside the human body, but what’s less clear is whether or not this is actually harmful, including whether it can increase the risk of cancer.
Perhaps the most questions surrounding microplastics and health center around what’s used in the kitchen. After all, what we cook with and use to eat is coming into contact with what we’re putting in our mouths.
The fears around microplastics have many people throwing out their plastic cutting boards. Is this a smart choice or an outsized reaction based on unproven fears? We talked to two oncologists as well as the leading independent expert on microplastics to find out.
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Can Using a Plastic Cutting Board Lead to Unknowingly Consuming Plastic?
When using a plastic cutting board, no one certainly intends to consume parts of the cutting board itself; just what you’re chopping up. However, Dr. Timothy Byun, MD, a hematologist and medical oncologist with Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange County, California, explains that using a plastic cutting board could potentially lead to unknowingly ingesting microplastics. “Small plastic particles may be shed when using a plastic cutting board with a knife,” he tells Parade.
Dr. James McCloskey, MD, the chief of the Leukemia Division at John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, agrees. “The repeated mechanical abrasion from a knife’s blade scrapes and dislodges tiny particles from the board’s surface, which then mix with the food you are preparing,” he says.
In fact, according to Dr. McCloskey, microplastic consumption from plastic cutting boards has been scientifically studied. A 2023 study published in Environmental Science & Technology shows that using plastic cutting boards does lead to microplastic consumption. In a 2025 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, researchers used either plastic or wooden cutting boards to prepare food for mice. At the end of the 12-week experiment, the mice fed food prepared on the plastic cutting boards had higher levels of microplastics in their blood and colon than the mice that ate food prepared on the wooden cutting boards.
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“The quantity of particles released depends on factors like your cutting style, the type of plastic and the hardness of the food being chopped. These dislodged microplastics are then ingested with your meal, and while the full long-term health effects are still under investigation, potential risks include inflammation and disruption of the gut microbiome,” Dr. McCloskey says, as to how much plastic from cutting boards ends up in food and its potential harm.
Is Ingesting Microplastics From Cutting Boards Dangerous?
As the studies showed, if you’re using a plastic cutting board, there’s likely tiny bits of plastic making their way into your body. The big question is: How dangerous is it? Dr. Chris DeArmitt, PhD, is the founder and president of the Plastic Research Council and has written two books on microplastics. He’s reviewed more than 1,500 studies on microplastics that have been verified and endorsed by professors and toxicologists worldwide. How does he feel about plastic cutting boards?
While microplastics from cutting boards may end up in our bodies, Dr. DeArmitt emphasizes that this hasn’t been proven to negatively impact human health. “There has never been any study showing a health effect from microplastic using real doses. Nor is there any evidence that there is plastic in our livers. Lifetime exposure is 0.015 grams over 70 years, and even that amount passes right through us,” he says.
Dr. DeArmitt highlights a 2022 study published in Global Environmental Change that states that despite media coverage on the dangers of microplastics, scientific evidence that it’s actually harmful to health is lacking. “Scientists compared media coverage of microplastics to what science shows and found that 93% of media articles claim there’s a threat when the majority of scientific studies show the opposite,” he tells Parade.
Both oncologists, Dr. Byun and Dr. McCloskey, add to this, saying that there is no direct evidence that microplastics cause cancer. Despite this, the evidence of plastic in the body is still alarming.
“These tiny plastic particles, which are widespread in the environment and have been found in various human organs and even cancerous tumors, can induce chronic inflammation, a known risk factor for cancer. Additionally, studies in cells and animals indicate that microplastics can cause DNA damage and oxidative stress, both of which are processes that can promote cancer growth,” Dr. McCloskey says, adding that microplastics can also act as carriers for other environmental toxins, transporting them into the body, which is also concerning.
The bottom line is this: Currently, there is no evidence that microplastics cause cancer. The plastic’s presence in the body still has some oncologists concerned, but you don’t need to throw away your plastic cutting boards yet—just consider replacing them with wooden ones when the time comes.
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How To Minimize Plastic in the Kitchen
Maybe all of this has you freaked out enough to want to minimize your exposure to plastic in the kitchen—just to be safe. Instead of plastic cutting boards, both Dr. Byun and Dr. McCloskey recommend using wood, bamboo, metal or rubber cutting boards.
While you’re reconsidering your plastic cutting boards, both oncologists recommend avoiding using plastic spatulas (which can melt when exposed to heat) and microwaving plastic food containers if you want to cut down on your plastic exposure in the kitchen. And certainly it’s better to use silverware instead of plasticware too.
“Filtering your tap water, preferably with a reverse osmosis system, can also significantly reduce ingestion, as can choosing loose-leaf tea over plastic tea bags. In your diet, prioritize fresh, whole foods over highly processed options that come in plastic packaging and be mindful of certain seafood like shellfish, which can accumulate microplastics,” Dr. McCloskey says, giving some other ways to minimize plastic exposure in the kitchen.
It’s important to be realistic. Plastic is everywhere in our environment and not coming into contact with it isn’t possible. So far, there is no clear scientific evidence that this exposure is harmful. But if it still has you freaked out, minimizing plastic use in the kitchen is a great place to start. Besides, wooden cutting boards look nicer anyway.
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Sources
Ririe, A. K., Fatema, N., Dina, T. J., et al. (2025). Impact of Microplastic Exposure on Human Health: A Systematic Review of Mechanisms, Biomarkers, and Clinical Outcomes. Cureus. 17(12):e100295. Dr. Timothy Byun, MD, hematologist and medical oncologist with Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange County, California. Dr. James McCloskey, MD, chief of the Leukemia Division at John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center. Yadav, H., Khan, R. H., Quadir, M., et al. (2023). Cutting Boards: An Overlooked Source of Microplastics in Human Food? Environmental Science & Technology. 57(22):8225-8235. Gan, H. J., Chen, S., Yao, K., et al. (2025). Stimulated Microplastic Release from Cutting Boards and Evaluation of Intestinal Inflammation and Gut Microbiota in Mice. Environmental Health Perspectives. 133(3-4):047004. Dr. Chris DeArmitt, PhD, chemist and founder and president of the Plastic Research Council. Kramm, J., Steinhoff, S., Werschmӧller, S., et al. (2022). Explaining risk perception of microplastics: Results from a representative survey in Germany. Global Environmental Change. doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2022.102485.Hence then, the article about should you throw away all your plastic cutting boards oncologists share the truth was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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