Plastics and pathogens – exploring public health risks of plastics for World Clean Up Day and the Great British Beach Clean
Posted by Emma Lamb
21 September 2026During this year’s Great British Beach Clean week (21-29 September), organised by the Marine Conservation Society, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Queensland, Beach Guardian co-founder and CLIMAR member Emily Stevenson looks at beach cleans from a public health perspective
Litter picking or beach cleaning is a fantastic way to tackle the threats of plastic waste, by removing pollutants and raising awareness of the threats plastics pose to wildlife. These risks are well known, including the ingestion of microplastics and the entanglement of marine life in nets and ropes.
But what are the risks to public health, and could there be a risk associated with picking up plastic for humans? We know that microplastics have been detected in human blood, breast milk, and even brains, but is there something we are overlooking?
Our research from the University of Exeter and Plymouth Marine Laboratory has found that tiny microbes attach to plastic in the ocean, forming diverse microbial reefs known as the ‘Plastisphere’. Whilst many of these bacteria are harmless, naturally occurring environmental microbes, some can cause disease or even survive and reproduce in the presence of antibiotics.
Bio-beads and nurdles found in Truro river. Photo courtesy Beach Guardian.
A colonised bio bead. Photograph by Stevenson et al.
We have found that certain types of plastics, such as polystyrene, may represent a greater risk in terms of supporting more harmful bacteria. We are also particularly concerned about microplastics used as part of wastewater treatment that accidentally spill into the environment, potentially carrying sewage-derived microbes with them.
In terms of transmission risk to beach cleaners and litter pickers, there are currently no conclusive findings, and this area requires greater research efforts to support volunteers in their eco-warrior endeavours.
A successful beach clean at Padstow, Cornwall
The result of years of beach cleans since 2017 in the Pasdtow area, Cornwall. Photograph by Beach Guardian
What is clear, however, is that anyone who picks up litter should do so carefully, using a litter picker where possible, and always wearing gloves. Volunteers should also wash their hands thoroughly, especially before eating. Finally, if there are records or evidence of recent sewage spills, additional care should be taken before undertaking beach cleaning or litter-picking activities.
To find out more about the Great British Beach Clean and how to get involved in an event near you, visit https://www.mcsuk.org/