A new study found nanoplastics in every human brain sample tested, with levels increasing over time and appearing higher in dementia patients.
Douglas Main reports for The New Lede.
In short:
- Researchers detected microplastics in all 52 brain samples studied, with 2024 samples containing 50% more plastic than those from 2016.
- Brains from dementia patients had three to five times more plastic by weight than those from healthy individuals, though a causal link remains unclear.
- Nanoplastics, primarily polyethylene, bypassed the blood-brain barrier, raising concerns about long-term health effects.
Key quote:
"There’s much more plastic in our brains than I ever would have imagined or been comfortable with."
— Matthew Campen, University of New Mexico researcher and lead author of the study
Why this matters:
Microplastics, which measure less than five millimeters, are often ingested or inhaled unknowingly, carried by contaminated water, food or airborne dust. Once in the body, their small size and chemical composition allow them to travel to areas where foreign particles typically do not belong. The ability of microplastics to reach the brain and potentially trigger inflammation or disrupt normal cellular processes could have long-term implications, though research into their specific effects is still in its infancy. While scientists work to untangle the links between microplastics and chronic diseases, the sheer prevalence of these particles in the environment suggests that they are a far-reaching problem, with impacts extending from ecosystems to human health.
Read more: Massive new database on how plastic chemicals harm our health
