Microplastics Found in Human Organs, Even Brain, Study Says

According to a fresh investigation, microplastics could be as prevalent inside the body as they are in the environment.In the study, scientists exposed mice to varying amounts of microplastics through drinking water and observed how these particles affected their organs and behavior.

Microplastics are tiny plastic pieces, less than 5 mm long, originating from larger plastic items that have degraded, like clothing, tires, and other objects.

Microplastic in Our System

In the research published in the International Journal of Molecular Science, the authors discovered that the tiny plastic particles accumulated in all the tissues they examined, including deep within the brain tissue.

Study author Jaime Ross, a professor at the University of Rhode Island in the US, mentioned, “Since in this study microplastics were administered orally via drinking water, it was expected to find them in tissues like the gastrointestinal tract, a significant part of the digestive system, or in the liver and kidneys.”

Ross added, “However, finding microplastics in organs such as the heart and lungs suggests that they are not just staying in the digestive system but are likely moving through the entire body’s circulation system.”

The Results of the Experiment on Mice

They also examined how being exposed to microplastics for three weeks affected the behavior of both younger and older mice. The researchers noted that exposure to these plastics caused behavioral changes in the mice, similar to dementia in humans, with older mice being more severely affected.

According to Ross, “There’s still a lot we don’t know about what happens to these microplastics once they’re in the body, especially as we age.” “We’re curious: Do these microplastics cause more inflammation in the body as you grow older? Is it harder for your body to get rid of them? Do your cells react differently to these harmful substances?”

They urged further research to understand how plastics can alter the brain, as they discovered that microplastics might reduce a protein that affects brain cell functions.

Microplastics Detected in Human Tissue

Tiny bits of plastic, known as microplastics, are already being found in large amounts in the environment as plastic waste increases over the years.

According to a study from 2019 conducted by Canadian scientists, it’s estimated that people consume anywhere from 39,000 to 52,000 microplastic particles per year, depending on their age and gender.

This count could rise significantly depending on whether individuals drink tap water or bottled water, as bottled water tends to expose them to more microplastics.

Studies indicate that these small plastic particles can gather in human organs. Microplastics have been discovered in human blood, lungs, stool, and even in placentas. However, there’s limited research on how they affect human health.

The authors of the new study emphasized the importance of understanding the toxicity of microplastics, given that human exposure to them is inevitable due to their persistent presence in the environment.

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