Microplastics are accumulating in the human brain at alarming rates, with their concentrations rising by 50% over the past eight years. Researchers have detected plastic fragments as small as 200 nanometers, which may be interfering with brain function.
A team at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences discovered microplastics in human brains at levels significantly higher than in other organs. Their study also highlights a concerning trend: the accumulation of plastic in the brain has increased by 50% over the last eight years.
Microplastics—tiny fragments of broken-down plastics that are found in air, water, and soil—have been accumulating in the human body for decades. These particles have already been detected in several organs, including the liver, kidneys, placenta, and testes.
Now, researchers at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences have found these microplastics in human brains, and in much higher concentrations than in other organs. Even more concerning, the amount of plastic in the brain is growing over time, with a 50% increase in just the last eight years.
In a recent study published in Nature Medicine, a research team led by toxicologist Matthew Campen, PhD, Distinguished and Regents’ Professor at the UNM College of Pharmacy, reported that plastic concentrations in the brain were found to be higher than in the liver, kidneys, placenta, or testes.
The rate of this accumulation mirrors the growing global problem of plastic waste, according to Campen. “This really changes the landscape. It makes it so much more personal,” he said. The study also revealed that much of the plastic found in the brain is smaller than previously thought, with some particles measuring just 200 nanometers—about two to three times the size of viruses.
These findings are a cause for alarm, Campen stressed.
Find out if this plastic accumulation could be leading to dementia:
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