Summary: A new study has found microplastics in human brains for the first time, raising concerns about the potential health impact. Researchers analyzed samples from autopsies and discovered an accumulation of plastic particles in brain tissue, likely due to exposure through food, water, and air.
Although the study is still in its preliminary stages, it highlights the need for further investigation into the effects of microplastics on brain health. While microplastics have been shown to cause inflammation and damage in laboratory experiments, their long-term impact on human health remains unclear.
Key Facts: Microplastics have been found in human brains, increasing by 50% since 2016.
These particles enter the body through food, water, and air and can travel to the brain.
More research is needed to understand the long-term health effects of microplastics.
Source: The Conversation
Plastic is in our clothes, cars, mobile phones, water bottles and food containers. But recent research adds to growing concerns about the impact of tiny plastic fragments on our health.
A study from the United States has, for the first time, found microplastics in human brains. The study, which has yet to be independently verified by other scientists, has been described in the media as scary, shocking and alarming. We don’t yet know the effects of microplastics in the human brain. Credit: Neuroscience News But what exactly are microplastics? What do they mean for our health? Should we be concerned? What are microplastics? Can you see them?
We often consider plastic items to be indestructible. But plastic breaks down into smaller particles. Definitions vary but generally microplastics are smaller than five millimetres.This makes some too small to be seen with the naked eye. So, many of the images the media uses to illustrate articles about microplastics are misleading, as some show much larger, clearly visible pieces.Microplastics have been reported in many sources of drinking water and everyday food items . This means we are constantly exposed to them in our diet.Such widespread, chronic (long-term) exposure makes this a serious concern for human health. While research investigating the potential risk microplastics pose to our health is […]
Microplastics Found in Human Brains, Raising Health Concerns
