Microplastics, Forever Chemicals & the Chemical Soup in Your Home

The University of Connecticut has revealed something eye-opening: our homes are simmering in a  “chemical soup” and it’s wreaking havoc on our health. “Microbial traces of everything from coffee to antidepressants make up the invisible environment in our indoor spaces,” UConn researchers said.

We’ve been talking about this for years. People think of pollution as something outside—car exhaust, factory fumes, smog, or a dirty looking river. But research has shown time and time again that the most toxic place for human health is indoors—not just because we spend most of our time there, but because of the chemical soup that people breathe in and come into contact with throughout the day.

Let’s unpack what this “chemical soup” is made of, how it affects your family’s well-being, and what the Bible has to say about guarding the health of your home. Because as followers of Christ, we’re called to steward our bodies—and our environments—with wisdom!

UConn Study

The UConn study, highlights how everyday activities—like cooking, cleaning, and simply living indoors—create a complex mix of chemicals and microbes in our homes. Researchers tracked molecular and microbial changes in a test house and found that human presence and actions dramatically alter the indoor environment.

Substances like capsaicin, caffeine, medications, and even skin-related microbes were found to linger on surfaces and in the air. The study underscores a key shift: indoor spaces are not static—they’re dynamic environments where chemicals accumulate, interact, and potentially impact health over time. This research raises important questions about long-term exposure and the need to understand chemical soup better.

“One thing that completely blew my mind was the most pronounced trace humans left behind was coffee,” he says. “Even though coffee was not part of scheduled indoor activities, we found multiple versions of a coffee-derived molecule all around the house, including some that originated from coffee and were then modified by microbes, and the epicenter was the coffee machine where it was then spread around by human activities. What are the health effects of those molecules? We have no idea. There are thousands upon thousands of molecules in the house that we attribute as originating from food.”

“What are the health effects of those molecules? We have no idea. — UConn

“There are all kinds of health conditions on the rise that we can’t explain that could be related to indoor environments,” Aksenov says. “The important consideration is that we do know that microbes are important players, both those that are part of our microbiome and those in our surroundings. Ultimately, they interact with us through chemistry that you are exposed to by touching surfaces, inhaling, ingesting, and in all kinds of other ways. That’s the chemistry that ultimately affects our health and well-being.”

The Chemical Soup Reality

The concept of a “chemical soup”—a mix of environmental toxins affecting human health—was significantly shaped and popularized by Rachel Carson through her 1962 book Silent Spring, which exposed the dangers of pesticides like DDT. Her work highlighted the long-term, cumulative effects of chemical exposure on both ecosystems and human well-being, laying the groundwork for the modern environmental movement.

“We are living in a soup of chemistry.” — UConn

Since then, the idea has evolved to encompass a broader range of toxins, including PFAS, dioxins, and indoor air pollutants, with scientific research continuing to explore how these combined exposures contribute to chronic health issues.

The chemical soup we’re being exposed to daily is literally everywhere and encompasses every aspect of life (starting in the womb).

Researchers have detected “forever chemicals”, microplastics, and nearly 300 chemicals in umbilical cord blood—of which we know that 180 are linked cancer, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 208 are linked to birth defects or abnormal development. So essentially, we’re being fed and bathed in chemicals since conception and we’re welcomed to the world, things get scary:

• According to the EWG, over 320 toxins have been identified in our water.
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirms that indoor air is 2 to 5 times more polluted than the air outside.
• The CDC claims up to 50% of antibiotic use is inappropriate
• And perhaps most alarming, dangerous levels of PFAS—also known as “forever chemicals”—are now found in rainwater, dust, and even groundwater.

“One thing that completely blew my mind was the most pronounced trace humans left behind was coffee.” — Alexander Aksenov

From the gas stove in your kitchen to the cleaning sprays under your sink, modern life has filled our indoor spaces with invisible contaminants. And it’s not just air. These chemical traces settle on our furniture, cling to our clothes, and even build up in our bodies. Everything from air fresheners to couches to the food we eat leaves behind a trail of toxins that can quietly impact our health—especially over time.

Your Toxic Bucket is Overflowing

At this point, most people can accept that our air, food, and water are contaminated. But there’s a deeper issue: the hidden chemicals in our everyday lives that we weren’t even talking about 20 years ago, with ‘forever chemicals’, microplastics and the growing list of toxins in our home and body products.

The bottom line is that our bodies can’t handle all of this chemical soup.

And, if you’ve ever wondered why people (young and old) seem sicker than every before consider this…

Your body has a built-in “toxic bucket”—aka, your detoxification system. It’s made up of your liver, kidneys, gut, lungs, and skin.

These organs work hard every day to clean out the chemicals and toxins that your body is constantly being exposed to. Your immune system is also tied into this process—it watches for threats and helps clean up the damage that toxins cause.

“There are all kinds of health conditions on the rise that we can’t explain that could be related to indoor environments,” UConn

Your organs and immune system were designed by God to manage a certain amount of chemicals and can only process so many toxins at once. While there’s no exact number that tells us when the body becomes overloaded, we can see warning signs in bloodwork—like elevated liver enzymes, increased inflammation markers, or signs of chronic stress. These indicators suggest that the body’s detox systems may be overwhelmed and that the nervous system is stuck in “fight-or-flight” mode, which can further suppress immunity and healing.

When your ‘toxic bucket’ starts to fill faster with the chemical soup than it can drain, both your detoxification and immune systems get overwhelmed, and the bucket overflows—leading to fatigue, brain fog, skin issues, and chronic disease like cancer, obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and even autoimmunity.

Truth is, unless you are actively living a detoxed, low-tox life, your toxic bucket is overflowing to some level and this is reason why most people don’t feel well and are sick.

That’s why reducing toxic exposure and supporting your detox systems is critical for real health today.

The Rise of “Forever Chemicals”

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is a family of 10,000+ ‘forever chemicals’ that contaminate all of humanity. Known for their resistance to breaking down in the environment and the human body, studies have linked PFAS exposure to a host of possible health issues like:

• Cancer
• Heart attack and stroke
• Immune system dysfunction
• Infertility (men & women) and reproductive disorders
• Liver damage
• Increased cholesterol levels
• Endocrine disruption
• Neurodivergence
• Obesity
• And the list goes on on

They are highly resistant and almost indestructible in the environment, and their toxicity is increasingly documented. These chemicals are found in at least 200 different use categories and are pretty much everywhere.

• Food packaging: yes, including your favorite healthy organic, coffees, cereals, snacks. Basically anything in a container that is NOT made of glass
• Cookware: non-stick pans and other kitchen utensils.
• Textiles: like carpets, and upholstery.
• Cosmetics: including foundation, mascara, and lipstick.
• Electronics: smartphone screens and other devices.
• Waterproof clothes: think kids rain boots, rain jackets, gore-tex
• Personal care products: shampoos, dental floss, and menstrual products.

And due to their widespread use and persistence in the environment, PFAS have been found in our rain water, dirt, dust, drinking water, and studies have found that at least 97% of people tested have PFAS compounds in their blood and body fluids.

This stuff is everywhere and there are few known ways to detox from them efficiently—one being consuming oat fiber every day. Just 1.5 – 2 cups of oatmeal contain enough beta glucan to help your body naturally detox PFOA so be sure to include oats in your morning breakfast routine!

The Rise of “Microplastics”

Just like PFAS, microplastics have quietly made their way into nearly every part of our environment—and our bodies.

These tiny plastic particles, often smaller than a grain of sand, break off from everyday items like food containers, water bottles, and synthetic fabrics. They’re not just showing up in the ocean or landfills—they’re in our air, our food, and our water.

Studies have found microplastics in:

• Bottled and tap water
• Table salt
• Produce and seafood
• Human blood, breast milk, and even placentas

These aren’t just environmental concerns anymore—they’re personal. Ongoing research suggests that microplastics may interfere with hormone function, weaken immune responses, and increase inflammation—raising concern about their role in chronic conditions.

1. Prenatal Exposure & Baby Health

A recent article highlights alarming new findings: microplastics have been discovered inside human placentas. Even more concerning, these particles were found in newborns’ first bowel movements—suggesting placental transfer and potential health risks, such as impaired fetal development and growth issues.

2. Immune System Impact

Lab studies indicate that inhaled microplastics can suppress critical lung immune cells (like alveolar macrophages and T-cells), leading to increased inflammation and compromised lung defense.

3. Cardiovascular & Stroke Risks

One study found microplastics lodged in blocked carotid arteries—up to 51 times more in patients who suffered strokes. These particles may contribute to arterial inflammation and plaque formation, highlighting a possible connection to stroke and heart disease.

4. Chronic Disease Connections

Research from the American College of Cardiology shows regions with elevated microplastic pollution have higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and other chronic illnesses acc.org. This adds to growing evidence that microplastics may exacerbate or contribute to widespread health conditions.

5. Cancer & Neurological Concerns

Recent reviews suggest microplastics can trigger oxidative stress, inflammation, immune changes, and DNA damage—mechanisms known to contribute to cancer, neurotoxicity, and Alzheimer’s disease. Separate data also indicate microplastics can induce cerebral thrombosis and behavioral changes by clogging small blood vessels in the brain.

The Antibiotic Epidemic (Continues)

Another major player in chemical soup is antibiotics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report states that 70% of the population are prescribed antibiotics each year.

Antibiotics—and many other pharmaceuticals—are recognized by the body as foreign compounds that require processing through detox systems. While some claim they serve “essential” purposes, antibiotics are not without cost: they disrupt gut microbial balance, place strain on organs like the liver and kidneys, and can burden immune responses. In effect, each dose contributes to your “toxic bucket”—your body’s cumulative exposure load—which can influence how efficiently your detox and defense systems function.

Common antibiotic side effects  include digestive problems like nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.  Allergic reactions—ranging from mild rashes to severe anaphylaxis—are another risk. In more serious cases, antibiotics can cause liver or kidney damage, increase sensitivity to sunlight, and affect the nervous system, leading to dizziness, confusion, or even seizures. One particularly concerning outcome is Clostridioides difficile infection, a potentially severe condition linked to antibiotic use.

Antibiotics also disrupt the gut microbiome, leading to yeast overgrowth and infections such as thrush or candida. At any given time, your gut is home to an estimated 3 to 5 pounds of bacteria, yeast, and other microorganisms—collectively known as the gut microbiome. These microbes help digest food, produce essential nutrients (like certain B vitamins and vitamin K), and keep harmful organisms like yeast in check.

In a balanced state, beneficial bacteria outcompete yeast for nutrients and space, helping maintain overall gut health. But when you take antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum types, they don’t just kill the bad bacteria—they also wipe out the good. This disruption can allow yeast like Candida to grow unchecked, leading to an overgrowth and a condition known as dysbiosis—an imbalance in the microbial community that’s been linked to digestive issues, fatigue, weakened immunity, and other chronic health concerns.

Chemical Soup & Exposure of Kids

The far-reaching effects of the chemical soup (the double onslaught of chemicals in our food and overuse of antibiotic drugs), are actually not known because they are still relatively new on the market, yet research suggests that children are especially vulnerable.

For example, according to the work produced by the Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility, In Harm’s Way: Toxic Threats To Child Development, millions of U.S. children currently suffer from the following neurocognitive disorders because of dangerous chemical exposure in their food and environment:

• Learning disabilities (ADD, ADHD, autism)
• Reduced IQ
• Destructive, aggressive behavior
• Social disorders

Of the toxins listed in their report, pesticides such as organophospates and others that are widely used in homes and schools (dioxin and PCBs that bioaccumulate in the food chain) were some of the most dangerous. It has been suggested that these chemicals in food literally prevent proper hormone and cellular function and disrupt the flow of neurotransmitters or other growth factors.

Here’s the scary part:

• Many of these toxins are regularly used in food manufacturing and pollute our environment.
• They can be passed to the fetus through the placenta, breast milk, or in food where they end up in our bones, blood, fat, urine, ovaries, and sperm.

And when you compound the negative side effects of antibiotic use, Americans are on the verge of a public health pandemic!

The Solution to These Dangerous Chemicals

At the end of the day, health or illness is our choice. Both cost money, and we’re without excuse if we try to blame not taking ourselves on it being “expensive.” You know what’s REALLY expensive? The $2.7 trillion medical debt (2) our country has!

When it comes to avoiding the double onslaught of chemicals in our food and overuse of antibiotic drugs, it’s important to avoid this chemical soup of food chemicals as much as humanly possible:

• Live as a low a toxic life as possible. There’s no way of making your home a 100% clean and healthy environment, but every non-toxic swap helps. Kitchen, bath, laundry, garden, body care and cleaning products… it all adds up to reduce your toxic overload. It all makes a difference.
• Try to avoid antibiotics as much as possible. If your doctor prescribes you fluoride-containing fluoroquinolone antibiotic (such as Cipro, Levaquin, Avelox, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and moxifloxacin), ask her if it is absolutely necessary because these powerful drugs have been linked to everything from tendon rupture to neurotoxicity.
• Use essential oils as a natural source of plant medicine. Oregano oil, for example, has actually been proven to be as effective as many conventional antibiotics in clinical trials. And best yet, it has powerful anti-fungal properties so you don’t have to worry about candida overgrowth like you would with antibiotics! You’ll find other essential oils accomplish similar things and the sooner you learn how to master the art and science of aromatherapy the better off you’ll be! When you need an antibacterial boost, check out my favorite immune blend with essential oils.
• Eat a bioactive-rich diet and fermented foods such as kimchi, on a regular basis. Most people today have a probiotic deficiency because the foods they eat are not fermented. And this deficiency can lead to a condition called leaky gut syndrome over time, which leads to poor nutrient absorption. Even if you eat the best diet on the planet, you could still be deficient in nutrition because you’re lacking healthy bacteria that will help digest your food and can also help prevent disease in the first place.

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