Today, plastic production continues unabated worldwide, and local measures to ban plastic bags and packaging have yet to address the global problem. Currently, plastic production exceeds 300 million tons per year, with an estimated 2.5 million tons floating in the world's oceans. Scientists understand that concentrations of micro- and nanoplastics in the environment will only increase, so they regularly study the effects on the human body.
In a new study, a team from the University of New Mexico found that microplastic levels in the human brain have increased by 50% over the past eight years. To reach this conclusion, the scientists examined 52 brain samples taken from the frontal cortex. This region of the brain is responsible for decision-making, thinking, movement, and other vital functions.
Moreover, the concentration of microplastics in the brain was higher than in the liver and kidneys of humans, which were also examined in the study using microscopic imaging and molecular analysis to determine their chemical composition. A total of 12 different polymers, including polyethylene, were detected in the brain.
The study's author, Matthew Campen, believes that most microplastics enter the body through food, especially meat. "Commercial meat production naturally concentrates plastic in the food chain," he stated. Their study confirmed that store-bought meat contains high concentrations of plastic.
Scientists are only just beginning to study the long-term effects of microplastics on the body. For example, one study found that microplastics in blood vessels increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, and overall mortality by fivefold.
