The hidden link between microplastics and PFAS — and why litigation may be our strongest tool

By Coral Odiot-Rivera | Environmental Protection | August 15, 2025

Read the full article by Coral Odiot-Rivera (Environmental Protection)

"When scientists found microplastics in polar bear blood and at the summit of Mount Everest, it confirmed what has been suspected for years: plastic pollution has no boundaries. But there's a more troubling reality that most people don't understand — these tiny plastic fragments aren't just inert particles floating through our environment. They're carriers for some of the most persistent chemicals ever created.

As someone who has spent seven years in courtrooms fighting companies that knowingly contaminated our water with PFAS, I've seen how these "forever chemicals" hitchhike on microplastics, spreading contamination far beyond their original sources. While communities likeAnn Arbor invest millions in water treatment systems, the fundamental problem persists: our patchwork of regulations can't keep up with the complex ways these contaminants cycle through the environment.

The good news? Legal pressure is finally forcing polluting companies to change how they operate. The $14 billion settlement we secured against PFAS manufacturers proves that corporate accountability, not just regulation, can drive real environmental protection."