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Microplastics are invading our brains as scientists warn it’s time for action
Small plastic pieces called microplastics are invading our brains, according to scientific evidence that is leading researchers to call for more urgent actions to rein in pollution.
Microplastics are tiny and can be harmful to the environment and human health. Most of us are aware that plastic pollution is a problem for the environment, but did you know it could lead to microplastics infiltrating brain tissue and other organs?
Research shows microplastics are invading our brains
Microplastics are fragments of any type of plastic less than 5 mm in length, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the European Chemicals Agency.
Humans are exposed to microplastics and the chemicals used to make plastics from widespread plastic pollution in the air, water, and even food. Microplastic pollution results from the overproduction and overconsumption of plastic, especially the disposable kind.
As an emerging field of study, there is still a lack of knowledge about microplastics and their impacts. However, a growing body of scientific evidence shows that microplastics are accumulating in critical human organs, including the brain.
Tiny shards and specks of plastics have been detected in human lungs, placentas, reproductive organs, livers, kidneys, knee and elbow joints, blood vessels, and bone marrow, as reported in a study on tissue accumulation of microplastics.
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In a pre-print paper that is still undergoing peer review posted online by the National Institutes of Health, researchers found a particularly concerning accumulation of microplastics in brain samples.
Health hazards of microplastics within the human body are not yet well-known, but studies are beginning to suggest they could increase the risk of various conditions such as�oxidative stress (which can lead to cell damage and inflammation) as well as�cardiovascular disease.
Animal studies on mice have also linked microplastics to fertility issues, various cancers, and a disrupted endocrine and immune system. Another study highlights impaired learning and memory.
Just like us humans, research shows that pets aren’t exempt from the effects of invasive microplastics either. Studies indicate that they can cause problems even for furry friends.
Scientists warn it’s time to act
There are currently no governmental standards for plastic particles in food or water in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency is working on crafting guidelines for measuring microplastics and has been giving out grants since 2018 to develop new ways to quickly detect them.
Sedat G�ndo du, who studies microplastics at Cukurova University in Turkey, said that the research findings now make it “imperative to declare a global emergency” to deal with plastic pollution.
Matthew Campen, University of New Mexico, explained that “theres much more plastic in our brains than I ever would have imagined or been comfortable with.”
Bethanie Carney Almroth, an ecotoxicologist at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden pointed out just how scary this news is, explaining that finding microplastics in more and more human organs “raises a lot of concerns”, given what we know about health effects in animals, studies of human cells in the lab, and emerging epidemiological studies.
