Microplastics, Climate Change, and Women’s Hormonal Health: Unraveling the Impact of Climate Change on Women’s Health

BY NARDEEN GEBRAEEL AND ASHLEY RAFFELI

Microplastics and climate change represent two environmental crises that significantly impact women’s hormonal health. These disruptions occur through multiple pathways, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in plastics and climate-induced physiological stressors. Exposure to these environmental hazards can contribute to hormonal imbalances, infertility, pregnancy complications, and long-term metabolic and reproductive disorders.¹ Women in low-income and marginalized communities are disproportionately affected, facing higher exposure risks owing to industrial pollution, inadequate healthcare access, and occupational hazards.² By integrating both scientific and anthropological perspectives, we can develop more effective policies and interventions to mitigate the harmful effects of environmental pollution on women’s hormonal health.

Rising global temperatures contribute to increased heat stress, which can have significant consequences for women’s reproductive health. Heat exposure has been shown to disrupt ovarian function, impairing follicular development and leading to menstrual irregularities.³ Chronic heat stress can also increase oxidative stress and inflammation, further disrupting hormonal regulation and reducing fertility.⁴ Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat, as studies have linked high temperatures to increased risks of preterm birth, stillbirth and low birth weight.⁵ Heat stress can interfere with placental function, causing fetal growth restrictions and complications such as pre-eclampsia.⁶ These adverse effects disproportionately affect women in regions with limited access to prenatal care and climate-adaptation strategies. The lack of such care underscores the need for climate-resilience planning that centres maternal and fetal health, including improved access to cooling centres, public-health warnings during heatwaves and policies to mitigate climate change and its reproductive-health consequences.

Climate change contributes to worsening air pollution, which significantly affects women’s hormonal health. Airborne pollutants such as fine particulate matter, heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons act as endocrine disruptors, interfering with oestrogen, progesterone and thyroid-hormone regulation.⁷ Long-term exposure to air pollution has been linked to early menopause, reduced fertility and increased risks of hormone-related disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis.⁸ Evidence also suggests that prenatal exposure to air pollution can have lasting effects on fetal development, increasing the risk of birth defects and developmental disorders owing to hormone disruption during critical stages of growth.⁹ Urban and low-income communities are disproportionately exposed to air pollution because of historic proximity to industrial sites, highways and other poor-air-quality regions. Climate-driven wildfires and extreme weather events further exacerbate this issue, releasing large amounts of toxic pollutants into the atmosphere. These effects are not just biological but political—where one lives and works, and the kind of healthcare one can access, all influence exposure levels and long-term outcomes.

In recent decades, our environment has become inundated with microscopic plastic particles that permeate nearly every facet of modern life. Microplastics—tiny fragments less than 5 mm in diameter—originate from the breakdown of larger plastic waste as well as from the direct release of manufactured microbeads in cosmetics and personal-care products. As these particles spread through food, water, air and household items, concerns have grown about their ability to act as vectors for EDCs. These chemicals, including bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are known to interfere with hormone function, with mounting evidence suggesting that women may be particularly vulnerable to ensuing health complications.^10,11 Microplastics are ubiquitous; they have been identified in bottled water, seafood, table salt and even in the air we breathe. Environmental factors such as ultraviolet radiation and mechanical abrasion further break down plastic debris, making microplastics a constant presence in daily life.¹⁹ Consequently, almost everyone is potentially exposed to these contaminants through routine activities—from dining to showering.¹⁰ Although individual exposures may seem minor, their cumulative impact raises serious concerns for endocrine health and chronic-disease development.

Climate change is also affecting food and water safety, increasing women’s exposure to EDCs through contaminated agricultural and water sources. Rising temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns have led to greater pesticide and herbicide use, elevating levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals in food.¹² Many pesticides contain known EDCs, such as atrazine and glyphosate, which interfere with oestrogen and thyroid-hormone function, leading to metabolic disorders and reproductive-health issues.¹³ Climate change further worsens water pollution by increasing the presence of heavy metals, pharmaceuticals and microplastics in drinking water.¹⁴ These contaminants have been linked to altered puberty onset, fertility decline and pregnancy complications. Studies show that microplastics can accumulate in human tissues, potentially disrupting hormone function by transporting toxic additives such as BPA and phthalates.¹⁵ Low-income and rural communities are particularly vulnerable because they often rely on agricultural work and have limited access to clean-water infrastructure, with outdated pipes and inadequate regulation compounding existing exposure risks.

An alarming aspect of microplastics is their capacity to adsorb and transport chemicals that disrupt endocrine function. BPA, phthalates and PFAS frequently adhere to microplastic surfaces. These chemicals can mimic natural hormones, binding to hormone receptors and altering physiological regulation. BPA is renowned for its oestrogen-mimicking properties, phthalates have been linked to altered reproductive development, and PFAS are associated with disruptions in lipid metabolism and immune function.^16,17 Microplastics thus serve as both carriers and reservoirs, releasing EDCs into the body over time once ingested or inhaled. Emerging research suggests that such hormonal disruptions have profound implications for women’s health, contributing to menstrual irregularities, reduced fertility and even early menopause. Women’s endocrine systems, which regulate reproductive health, are especially sensitive to subtle imbalances triggered by EDC exposure. Even low levels of BPA have been associated with conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis.¹⁰ These disorders often require long-term medical care and fertility treatment, adding psychological strain to already marginalized women.

Beyond reproductive issues, microplastics and their associated chemicals impact broader metabolic functions. EDCs such as BPA and phthalates can act as ‘obesogens’—chemicals that interfere with lipid metabolism and energy balance, promoting weight gain.²⁰ These substances encourage the differentiation of precursor cells into adipocytes, increasing fat accumulation and predisposing individuals to metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.²¹ Epidemiological studies have correlated higher urinary BPA levels with increased body-mass index, particularly among women. Hormonal imbalances induced by these chemicals may alter metabolic pathways, making weight management more challenging and fostering a cycle of dysregulation.²¹ Gradual, persistent weight gain emerges despite lifestyle interventions, because chronic low-level exposure to microplastics—and their obesogenic chemicals—is nearly inescapable. From synthetic fibres shed during laundry to microscopic fragments settling on dinner plates, microplastics constitute an invisible presence. The widespread use of plastic in packaging, personal-care products and industry ensures their continual re-introduction into the environment, creating a public-health dilemma that lifestyle changes alone cannot solve without addressing structural and environmental root causes.

Although the ubiquity of microplastic contamination may seem overwhelming, steps can be taken to reduce exposure. At the individual level, practical measures include opting for glass or stainless-steel containers, choosing personal-care products free of microbeads and reducing overall plastic consumption.¹¹ At the policy level, stricter regulation of industrial pollutants and promotion of sustainable agricultural practices are urgently needed. Governments must prioritise strategies that limit the release of both microplastics and their associated EDCs. Recent proposals include bans on single-use plastics and incentives for biodegradable alternatives.¹⁸ As climate change intensifies environmental stressors, policymakers should integrate pollution-control and climate-mitigation efforts, ensuring robust protection for vulnerable populations—particularly women. Continued research into the long-term health implications of microplastics will strengthen the evidence base for effective policy and personal action.¹⁷

The prevalence of microplastics and their role as vectors for EDCs create subtle yet inescapable obstacles to many women’s health. Many women remain unaware of the links between these exposures and menstrual irregularities, infertility and hormone-related conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis. Metabolic imbalances driven by these chemicals—manifesting as weight gain and other downstream effects—underscore the urgency of raising awareness in communities that are, quite literally, drowning in microplastics. This awareness must translate into action through education campaigns, accessible research summaries and the integration of environmental health into primary-care services. Addressing microplastics and climate change is crucial not only for health today but also for that of future generations.

Nardeen Gebraeel is a first-year in Berkeley College, and Ashley Raffaelli is a first-year in Pauli Murray College.

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