23.09.2024

Microplastics may be entering the brain, warns a new study

Scientists and activists around the world are calling for immediate action against the impact of plastic on human health, it says Euronews.

Their demands come after the publication of a new report which shows that the indoor environment may be a major source of microplastic pollution. In short, this means that plastic particles are easily inhaled and can quickly enter the brain.

The research, led by Professor Dr. Tice Mouad and Dr. Luis Fernando Amato-Lorenzo from the University of São Paulo and the Free University of Berlin, discovered the existence of microplastic in the olfactory bulb - located at the base of the brain.

The identification of microplastics in the nose as well as in the bulb suggests that the olfactory pathway is likely an entry point for foreign particles to the brain.

How was the research done?

The researchers were able to identify plastic fibers and particles in eight of 15 samples taken from the brains of 15 deceased residents of São Paulo, Brazil.

They found that the most common plastic found was polypropylene, which is commonly used for clothing, food packaging and bottles.

They also found that the presence of microplastics with a diameter of 10 microns means that the level of smaller nanoplastics, which pass into the human body more easily, is much higher than previously thought.

"This study establishes that the olfactory pathway is a potential major pathway for plastic to enter the brain, meaning that breathing in indoor environments may be a major source of plastic pollution in the brain. With much smaller nanoplastics entering the body with greater ease, the total level of plastic particles can be much higher. What is worrying is the ability of such particles to be taken up by cells and change the way our bodies function," said Professor Tais Mouad, lead researcher at the University of São Paulo.

Researchers are particularly concerned about the ability of these particles to be taken up by cells. Simply put, they have the potential to cause changes in cellular function, especially when they interact with organs in children. This means that they can also cause permanent changes in the lives of adults.

The study is supported by the Plastic Soup Foundation and the Plastic Health Council, groups of leading scientists and activists fighting to ensure that the UN Global Compact on Plastics properly addresses the impact of plastics on human health.

What else has been discovered about the dangers of plastics to human health?

The new study follows the discovery of plastic in the human body by Plastics Health Council member Professor Dr Lucas Kenner in April.

He found that intestinal cancer cells can spread at an accelerated rate after contact with microplastics and suggested that plastics may play a key role in the early onset of cancer.

Other scientists suggest that additional human health consequences of exposure to plastics may include endocrine disruption, reduced fertility and heart disease.

"Plastic has become synonymous with breathing, like air. Time and again, scientists reveal the dangerous effects of plastics on human health. The international community is only months away from final negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty, and yet politicians are caving in to the petrochemical giants. The international community cannot waste any more time, it must finally listen to the science, once and for all," says Maria Vesterbos, founder of the Plastic Soup Foundation and co-founder of the Plastic Health Council.

Today, more than 500 million tons of plastic are produced each year for use in a wide variety of applications.

Globally, scientists have compiled a list of more than 16 chemicals present in plastic products, and at the same time, they have found that more than 000 of them are dangerous to both human health and the environment.