Plastic pollution is no longer just an environmental problem, it is now a human health problem. A marvelous new study from the University of New -Mexico showed that microscopic plastic particles accumulate in human brains at anxiously high level, which is much larger than in other organs. Moreover, these concentrations increased by 50% in just eight years.
Researchers who analyze the posthumous brain tissue have found that microplasty levels in the brain are approximately 12 times higher than the liver or kidney. The brain samples in individuals with dementia contain up to ten times more plastic than those that do not have a condition. (Also Read: New Study shows how to fight pain skills help dialysis patients with chronic pain )
Plastic found in human brain
“It really changes the landscape. It makes it much more personal,” says lead researcher Matthew Kampen, outstanding and Professor of Regents at the UN Pharmaceutical College.
Microplasty, which come from everyday items such as water bottles, dietary containers and synthetic clothing, break into tiny fragments, a lot too little to look. While past studies have discovered microplasty in human blood, placenta and organs, this new study shows an unprecedented concentration in the brain tissues. The samples collected at the beginning of 2024 showed an average level of 4 917 mcg per gram, equivalent to four up to five clamps for a kilogram of brain tissue.
Most particles were polyeth, usually found in plastic bottles and packs. Extended microscopy revealed sharp plastic fragments up to 200 nanometers, small enough to disturb the protective barrier of the brain. Researchers, not chemical toxicity, these fragments can physically impair the function of the brain, possibly interfere with blood flow or interfere with nervous connections. “They can even promote protein aggregation associated with dementia,” says Matthew Kampen, lead researcher. “But we just don’t know yet.”
Increasing plastic levels and potential health risks
The research team analyzed brain tissue samples from 2016 and 2024, finding a sharp increase in plastic level over eight years. To explore a longer trend, they looked at the old samples from 1997 to 2013, which showed much smaller plastic concentrations, coordinating the world splash of plastic and pollution.
Published in Nature Medicine, the study studied how microplastic is included in the body, and researchers suspect food, especially meat as a key source. Contaminated water used on farms, plastic, animal supply, and fertilizers from animal husbandry can contribute to increased plastic effects. Another study also revealed a high microplastic level in commercial seafood from the west coast.
Once inside, microplasty, as a rule, accumulate in the abundant fabrics similar to the myelin sheath of the brain, which isolates nerve cells. This may explain why the brain retains more plastic than other organs. The study also found that people with dementia had much higher plastic concentrations, especially around the blood vessels and clusters of immune cells, causing concern about the potential effects on the brain function.
What’s next? Urgent questions for human health
Even if the plastic production stopped today, the existing polymers will continue to collapse for decades, causing pollution growth. Campen warns that it can be a “bomb of human health.” To ensure accuracy, the researchers used several check -up methods, including chemical analysis and advanced microscopy, confirming that microplastic accumulates at anxiety speeds.
Their conclusions raise urgent issues relatively long -term impact on the health of these particles. This study means a turning point in understanding the impact of plastic human health. With microplasty, it steadily increases in brain tissues, the true question is not only what they do with us, but also what we will do with it. According to Kampen, “I have not yet met anyone, who says,” There is plastic in my brain, and I’m fine with that. “
