Microplastics can be seen almost everywhere on our planet Earth, from the most distant of islands to fresh snow in the Antarctics, at the ocean’s bottom, in food, water, and the air that we inhale. And now, unfortunately, microplastics in the human body are also suggested. According to new research released in the journal Nature Medicine, the human brain may contain up to a spoon’s worth of small plastic shards—not a spoonful, but roughly seven grams in weight.
University of New Mexico Health Sciences researchers have indicated that microplastics do indeed occur in human brain tissue and in higher numbers than in other organs. The number of microplastics detected has been described as being approximately the weight of a spoonful of plastic. There is evidence that the levels are increasing with time. Scientists are most worried that microplastics accumulate in the brain’s myelin sheath, which is responsible for the normal functioning of nerve cells.
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An overview of what we currently know
According to Dr. Manish Chhabria, Senior Consultant, Neurology, Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, “20 years ago, microplastics came into use, but it has only been during the last decade that scientists moved from examining these in animals and the environment to estimating their impacts on human health They are extremely hard to detect since they are not a single microplastic, but instead, they range across a variety of sizes, shapes, and chemicals, each having a different possible impact on cells and tissues.”
A study published in Nature Medicine has indicated On average, levels were approximately 50% higher in brain samples from 2024 compared to 2016 samples. And brain 30 times more microplastics than samples from an individual’s liver and kidneys.The most widespread plastic present is polyethylene in plastic bags and food and beverages packaging. On average, it constitutes 75% of total plastic
How microplastics impact human body
It can lead to cell death, immune responses and tissue damage. these particles may be associated with cancer, heart, and kidney disease, Alzheimer’s disease, fertility problems in individuals. In the brain particles, most of them were in the form of nanoscale shards and flakes. Nanoscale plastics may cross the blood-brain barrier, which in turn produces neurotoxic impacts. Polystyrene Microplastics Exposure may impair learning and memory operations by causing oxidative stress and lowering the levels of acetylcholine.Acetylcholinesterase activity inhibition and changed levels of neurotransmitters, both could be responsible for the observed changes in behavior.
According to Dr. Furqan Khan, Consultant Neurologist, Saifee Hospital, Mumbai, “Microplastics are able to cross the blood-brain barrier, a protective mechanism meant to isolate our brain from toxins. Once inside, the particles may trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and even disruption of neural function. Early studies link them to memory issues, cognitive dysfunction, and an increased risk of neurodegenerative illnesses like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. But correlation is not always causation. More studies are needed to know if microplastics cause dementia or if dementia allows greater microplastics into the brain.”
That microplastics are present in our brain is an eye-opener. Prevention comes with awareness. With conscious choices, we can protect not just our environment but our body as well. The moment of action is now!
What can you do?
While we cannot completely prevent ourselves from exposure to microplastics, we can make choices that diminish its impact:
1. Filter your water – Tap water can contain microplastics. Good-quality water filters can actually reduce your exposure.