The all-women sailing crew on a voyage to keep toxics out of the ocean and our bodies

There are over five trillion plastic particles in the ocean, and they’re harming women’s health. Environmentalist and skipper Emily Penn realised this after years of researching the impact of pollution. It’s estimated that 300 million tonnes of plastic is produced every year, of which at least eight million end up at sea. What begins as large pieces of trash break down into miniscule particles on which toxic chemicals accumulate. These eventually make their way from the ocean into the food chain and subsequently people’s bodies. Curious about the extent of toxics present in her body, Penn decided to test for what’s known as persistent organic pollutants. The discovery of 29 types of POPs in her blood prompted her to tackle this seemingly small but dangerous phenomenon.

In 2014, Penn co-founded eXXpedition, a series of sailing voyages to study microplastics in the ocean and contribute the findings to science. Though the research programme has been developed by a team of academics and ocean scientists, Penn was particular about who she included in her missions. “We wanted an all-female crew because we were interested in the potential implications of toxic chemicals on female health,” she says. 

The crews have collected over 250 samples, analysing the composition of plastics in the ocean, determining the extent to which microplastics are now also airborne, and evaluating the risks of ingestion – among a host of other factors that affect women’s health. “When these chemicals get inside us, they act as hormone disruptors and can interrupt pregnancy, and we can also pass them onto our children when we give birth,” Penn says. 

The environmental activist is now raising awareness of this hidden threat. Her voyages are also empowering women, usually underrepresented in science and sport, to set sail as citizen researchers. “I feel like it’s my responsibility to encourage others to step into this field,” Penn says. By doing so, she’s giving women the opportunity to get onboard and navigate the future of the ocean and their bodies. “To fight for sustainability is to fight for our own health,” Penn says. 

Footage by eXXpedition was used in the creation of this film.