Microplastics in the Body
Should we fear microplastics in the body? Many think we should. Microplastics are nearly everywhere and levels of microplastics in the brain have increased 50% from 2016 to 2024. Could these microplastics be a factor in dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions? The brain is not the only organ where we see microplastics in the body. Accumulations are found also in the liver, blood, saliva, kidneys, lungs, placenta, and other organs.
A study published in Nature Medicine looked at the accumulation of microparticles in the brain and found higher concentrations of microplastics and nanoparticles in the brains of those with dementia. The concentration of microplastics in the brain is as high as 5,000 micrograms per gram of brain. Five thousand micrograms is about the size of a plastic spoon. The liver was found to have as much as 400 micrograms of microplastics per gram of liver.
The amount of microplastics in the environment is doubling every 10 to 15 years.
What are Microplastics?
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles usually less than 5 millimeters in length that result from the breakdown of larger plastic materials. Microplastics are everywhere including fabrics, cosmetics, cleaning products, trash, dust, tables salt, rain, seafood, and more.
Microplastics can be broken down to nanoparticles which are less than 100 nanometers in size. Microplastics can cross the blood-brain barrier where they may be inflicting harm on our brain health. In the brain the microplastics are the size of nanoparticles.
Microplastics and Health
How microplastics affect our health is largely unknown but there are legitimate concerns, and it is doubtful that there are any positive effects of microplastics in the body. Not only can microplastics enter our cells but also get into the cell nuclei. Studies in cell cultures, marine wildlife, and animal studies indicate that microplastics cause oxidative damage, DNA damage, and change gene activity all of which are know risks for cancer development.
Microplastics have been found in human breast milk and infant’s first stool. Studies in mice show reproductive changes with reduced sperm counts and ovarian scarring.
Microplastics can affect the food chain as marine life are eating more microplastics and fewer nutrients which affects the food chain above.
Not only are the particles a concern but the make up of the chemicals in the microparticles which frequently contain BPA, phthalates, and heavy metals all of which are known endocrine disruptors. Plus, microparticles appear to potentiate the effects of other toxic insults are bodies receive.
How to Deal with Microplastics?
One of the problems in studying microplastics is that we do not have much of a control group since we are all being exposed to these microplastics and nanoparticles. Another problem is there is no treatment currently available to remove microplastics in the body.
Some research is focused on developing plastic-eating microorganisms and other research on alternatives to plastics and reduction in use of plastics in the manufacturing of most products.
Go to TEDX to learn more about how you can avoid microplastics in the body and other environmental toxins.
Sources:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03453-1
https://www.newsmax.com/health/health-news/microplastics-brain-blood-brain-barrier/2025/02/04/id/1197734/
https://magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/microplastics-everywhere
