[Plastic Pollution. Photo Credit to Unsplash]

A recent study revealed that human brain samples collected in early 2024 contained a 50% increase in microplastics than samples collected in 2016.

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles broken down from larger plastic particles that range from “one nanometer, which is 1/80,000 the width of a strand of hair, to five millimeters, which is about the size of a pencil top”.

The widespread use of plastic across various industries, due to its cheap abundance and durability, has led to increased prevalence in humans and the environment.

The study, which examined individuals with average age of 45 to 50 years old, found 4,800 micrograms (1/1,000,000 grams) of microplastics per gram spread across 0.5% of the brain.

Microplastics were found in much higher concentrations in the brain than in other organs with levels 7 to 30 times higher than in the liver or kidney.

Dr. Philip Landrigan, Director of the Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good and the Global Observatory on Planetary Health at Boston College, stated, “studies have found these plastics in the human heart, the blood vessels, the lungs, the livers, the testes, the gastrointestinal tract, and the placenta.”

He added that microplastics have been linked to inflammation, cancer, reproductive issues and other health concerns.

Phoebe Stapleton, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Rutgers University, cautioned that while these findings suggest the increased exposure to microplastics, they do not confirm the direct correlation to brain damage.

She emphasized that further research is needed to better understand the impact of microplastics on human health.

Despite the concerning findings, Dr. Landrigan advised against excessive worry, noting that no one in 2024 can live without plastic.

He suggested that while people can’t escape plastic entirely, they should try to minimize their exposure.

In a related study, neuroscientist Jaime Ross investigated the effects of microplastic-contaminated drinking water on mice, yielding unexpected results.

The research showed microplastics bypassing the blood-brain barrier and causing factors of cognitive decline similar to dementia.

These findings show that the already toxic and dirty microplastics that humans consume may have even worse potential effects.

Researchers note that since microplastics primarily enter through the respiratory system, they can cause adverse effects such as inflammation and fibrosis.

This indicates that prolonged exposure to microplastics could lead to even more severe illnesses.

Microplastics also affect the Gastrointestinal system by disrupting the regulation of energy and increasing harmful microbes while decreasing beneficial microbes that enable metabolic activity.

Sources of microplastic exposure include fruits and vegetables, plastic water bottles, ambient air, cosmetics, and household dust, suggesting the pervasive nature of this pollutant.

Currently, there are no specific governmental standards regulating microplastic levels in water or food.

However, efforts are being made to detect microplastics better, and experts recommend reducing exposure by avoiding plastic use with foods, not drinking from bottled water, and minimizing dust accumulation.

Experts emphasize that contact with microplastics is inevitable as they enter the body through dietary systems, inhalation, and dermal contact.

While the effects of microplastics on humans are not fully understood, researchers stress the importance of awareness and minimizing contact, exposure, or intake of these pervasive particles.