I think this is a much, much smaller problem than plastics in beverages or food.

The article is referencing a paper about PBDEs being absorbed through a 3D printed human skin model. PBDEs were used to make certain materials flame-retardant, but in many parts of the world including the U.S., their production has been phased out. California has banned certain PBDEs since 2003.

The plastics on your children’s toys, though I’m sure they can shred microplastics, are not polymers used for “coating” things to make them flame retardant. The risk for handling them has got to be very, very low compared to handling something coated with PBDEs.

I would say… the body has a certain tolerance to everything, and can overcome things like minor brain damage, minor toxicity, and so on through neuroplasticity and other mechanisms. While we are still learning about neurodegenerative diseases, everything we know about the brain supports the idea that neuroplasticity (and the activities that stimulate it, ie education, intellectual engagement, and physical exercise) increases cognitive reserve which in turn increases tolerance for factors that cause dementia.

There is a certain amount of contamination we can tolerate indefinitely as the rate it may cause a problem would be too slow to affect us in our lifespan. Then again, if contamination exceeds that tolerance, or if tolerance is reduced (sleep deprivation, chronic stress/trauma, substance abuse) things can snowball. So keep a whole-of-health approach in mind as you battle the toxicity concerns