Microplastics in the Brain: A Growing Threat?
The thought of ingesting plastic is unsettling, and recent research adds to that unease. Scientists are raising concerns about a new study indicating that microplastics can accumulate in the brain.
Researchers from the U.S. and Canada published a commentary in Brain Medicine, detailing not only a recent brain study but also broader scientific evidence suggesting the harmful effects of microplastics on the environment and our health.
Microplastics, defined as plastic fragments smaller than 5 millimeters, have been found everywhere, from mountaintops to human organs. A recent study in Nature Medicine from the University of New Mexico (UNM) researchers found microplastics in deceased individuals' brains and, alarmingly, higher concentrations in organs like the liver and kidneys.
This accumulation appeared more significant in recently deceased individuals, suggesting that plastic exposure has worsened. Furthermore, higher plastic concentrations were found in the brains of people with dementia, hinting at a potential link to the condition. The UNM researchers estimated that the brains of people today could be carrying a plastic spoon's worth of these tiny fragments. Scary, right?
What's the Big Deal?
Nicholas Fabiano, lead author of the new commentary, emphasizes that much remains unknown about the health impacts of microplastics, but initial findings are concerning. It's not just the plastic itself but also the chemicals that leach out of it. Over a hundred chemicals in plastic may be harmful, particularly endocrine-disrupting chemicals linked to infertility, cancers, and metabolic disorders.
"The current evidence base... suggests that [microplastic] exposure can lead to adverse health impacts via oxidative stress, inflammation, immune dysfunction," the authors of the Brain Medicine commentary wrote.
Many questions linger. How do these plastics enter the brain? How can our bodies eliminate them? Some research indicates we can sweat out plastic-associated chemicals.
What Can We Do?
Fabiano and other scientists urge governments and policymakers to reduce microplastic exposure. In the meantime, we can take personal steps, such as:
- Switching from bottled water to filtered tap water.
- Reducing consumption of foods commonly made with plastic (some tea bags) or known to contain high levels of microplastics (seafood, alcohol, processed foods).
- Storing leftovers in glass or stainless steel containers.
Source: Gizmodo