A new study published in Nature Medicine reveals a concerning increase in microplastic levels in human brain tissue over the past few years. While the study doesn't definitively link microplastics to health conditions, it raises questions about the potential long-term impacts of this widespread environmental pollutant. The research also suggests that the body may be able to expel some microplastics over time.
Human brain tissues analysed last year had much higher levels of tiny plastic particles than samples from 2016, according to research that shows the potential damage caused by so-called microplastics pollution. A study of autopsies across eight years found that the plastics levels did not vary much with age, suggesting people may be able to expel the harmful material over time.
The levels were higher still in dementia patients, although the study’s authors noted that their work did not prove the plastics caused neurodegenerative disorders or any other medical condition. The research suggested that tiny plastic particles might be “hijacking their way into the body along with dietary fats”, Campen said. The lower concentrations in the livers and kidneys might be because those organs had a biological role in clearing unwanted materials from the body, the researchers said.
Microplastics Human Health Brain Pollution Environmental Impact
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