Homo Plasticus - The Plastic Inside Us
April 7, 2026
The documentary shows the current state of research on the harmfulness of microplastics and the consequences for the human species. Micro- and nanoplastics pollute the environment and pose a threat to humans and animals.
Researchers in Barcelona, Vienna, Bologna, Grenoble and Catania have detected microplastics in human organs and bodily fluids: in lungs, intestines, heart, blood and semen, in placenta and in breast milk.
Detecting plastic in human tissue is a mammoth task, both technically and scientifically. Plastic particles can range from a few millimeters to a single nanometer and are difficult to detect, let alone capture.
Between in vitro and in vivo studies, and work on groups of test subjects, scientists are exploring new leads to understand the effects of micro-plastics on our health. Disruption of the microbiota, saturation of the immune system, inflammation of the lungs and intestines, DNA damage and a risk factor for cancer: these results all raise the serious question of whether microplastic is a danger to public health.
This unprecedented investigation takes us all over Europe to better understand how plastics colonize our bodies and how they could alter them. Is homo sapiens gradually evolving into homo plasticus?
Broadcasting Hours:
DW English
TUE 14.04.2026 – 01:03 UTC
TUE 14.04.2026 – 04:03 UTC
TUE 14.04.2026 – 10:03 UTC
WED 15.04.2026 – 09:03 UTC
WED 15.04.2026 – 14:03 UTC
WED 15.04.2026 – 21:03 UTC
THU 16.04.2026 – 07:03 UTC
THU 16.04.2026 – 12:03 UTC
SAT 18.04.2026 – 08:03 UTC
SUN 19.04.2026 – 13:03 UTC
Lagos UTC +1 | Cape Town UTC +2 | Nairobi UTC +3
Delhi UTC +5,5 | Bangkok UTC +7 | Hong Kong UTC +8
London UTC +1 | Berlin UTC +2 | Moscow UTC +3
San Francisco UTC -7 | Edmonton UTC -6 | New York UTC -4