More than nine billion tons of plastics have been produced since the mid-20^th century and plastic waste has found its way not only into our much of natural environment but also into humans. Researchers say many tiny bits of the waste — called microplastics — are being ingested by a large percentage of the human population. Fulton Schools Professor Rolf Halden, director of ASU’s Center for Environmental Health Engineering, says there seems to be no immediate cause for alarm, but the news should cause close examination of the potential for negative health impacts from the microplastics we are ingesting and even inhaling.