In the documentary 'The Plastic Detox', epidemiologist Shanna Swan leads an experiment with six couples struggling to conceive, challenging them to dramatically reduce their plastic exposure for three months. The results are startling, suggesting that microplastics may be contributing to infertility through endocrine disruption.
The film follows Swan, author of the 2021 book 'Count Down', as she visits couples in Florida, California and Idaho. She replaces plastic items with glass and wood alternatives, highlighting how plastics are ubiquitous in modern life—from shower products and clothing to food packaging and utensils.
The couples, who have been trying to conceive for between 22 months and 10 years, speak emotively about their struggles. The documentary also delves into the broader history of plastics, noting how they became cheaply made from fossil fuels and how petrochemical companies have misled the public about recycling.
Archive footage shows a 2011 US Senate hearing where John Kerry forces a regulator to admit that toxicity data comes from manufacturers. Comparisons are drawn with leaded petrol and tobacco, though the film notes that far less progress has been made on plastics.
While the focus is on the US, which has weaker safeguards, the documentary argues that European regulations are also insufficient. The film is a terrifying call to action, urging viewers to change their lives immediately.
