Scientists from the University of New Mexico Health Sciences have found that the concentration of microplastics in human brain tissue has increased by one and a half times over the past eight years. Of particular concern is the fact that in patients with dementia, the content of plastic particles was ten times higher than normal, “MIR 24” reports with reference to Nature Medicine.
Within the framework of the study, scientists analyzed human tissue samples taken in 2016 and 2024. The results showed a significant increase in the concentration of plastic particles in the brain, liver, and kidneys, which directly correlates with the global increase in plastic pollution.
Particles of about 200 nanometers in size are particularly dangerous – they are comparable in size to viruses and easily overcome the protective blood-brain barrier of the brain. The study revealed the presence of twelve different types of polymers, among which polyethylene, the main component of packaging materials, leads.
Microplastics, which are tiny fragments of broken down polymers, are ubiquitous in the environment – air, water and soil. According to researchers, the main route for plastic to enter the body is through the food chain. This discovery raises serious questions about the long-term impact of plastic pollution on human health and calls for urgent action to reduce the use of plastic in everyday life.
