Recent research has uncovered alarmingly high levels of microplastics in human brains — with even greater concentrations found in individuals diagnosed with dementia. These findings raise urgent concerns about how plastic pollution impacts human health, especially as plastic production and waste continue to surge.
The Situation
Plastic pollution is everywhere— from the depths of our oceans to the food on our plates. Now, scientists are finding these tiny plastic particles in our bodies, including the most sensitive organ of all: The brain.
A new study from the University of New Mexico’s (UNM) Health Sciences Center detected microplastics in the human brain at much higher concentrations than in any other organ. Even more concerning, brain tissue from people who had been diagnosed with dementia showed up to ten times more plastic than those without the condition. While researchers have not yet determined whether microplastics cause dementia, the correlation is impossible to ignore.
Twelve different polymers were found present in the brain, the most common being polyethylene, a material often used in plastic packaging and bottles. These plastic particles were found to be shockingly small — just a fraction of the size of a virus — making them capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier, a protective layer of cells that control what substances can pass from the bloodstream to the brain. Researchers speculate that these particles may obstruct blood flow or interfere with connections between brain cells — both of which could accelerate cognitive decline.
What Now?
This discovery should sound the alarm on the plastic-obsessed systems pushed by corporations. Scientists are still learning exactly how microplastics affect our health, but the evidence is mounting — and the risks are too great to ignore.
The only way to keep microplastics from invading our bodies is to stop plastic pollution at its source. Policymakers need to act now to curb plastic pollution before it does even more harm. We need to reduce plastic production, ban unnecessary single-use plastics, and invest in Zero Waste solutions like reuse and refill systems.
Matthew Campen, a professor at UNM said it best: “I certainly don’t feel comfortable with this much plastic in my brain, and I don’t need to wait around 30 more years to find out what happens if the concentrations quadruple.”
Learn more on the University of New Mexico Health Sciences website.
This post was originally sent in an e-newsletter by Just Zero.
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