LONDON—Microplastics, the tiny remnants shed from everyday items like packaging and car tires, are not just polluting the oceans; they are lodged deep inside the human body in our blood, lungs, placentas, and even our brains. Scientists are now racing to understand the true impact of this pervasive contamination, with early research suggesting links to neurological changes and digestive diseases.
The startling reality is that plastic is now an intimate part of our internal environment. One study cited in the report estimated the human brain alone could contain as much as five grams of microplastic, or roughly a teaspoon.
Meddling with the Microbiome
The latest concerns center on the gut. Dr. Christian Pacher-Deutsch of the University of Graz in Austria revealed new findings at the recent United European Gastroenterology conference in Berlin, showing that exposure to common microplastics caused shifts in the populations of gut bacteria from healthy volunteers.
Crucially, the chemicals produced by the altered bacterial populations showed patterns similar to those linked to depression and colorectal cancer.
“While it’s too early to make definitive health claims, the microbiome plays a central role in many aspects of wellbeing, from digestion to mental health,” Pacher-Deutsch noted, stressing that reducing microplastic exposure is a “wise and important precaution.”
Neurological Warning Signs from Mouse Studies
The unsettling discoveries extend to the brain. Dr. Jaime Ross, a neuroscientist at the University of Rhode Island, found that mice given water laced with microplastic particles began exhibiting erratic behavior often associated with ageing and neurological disease.
Post-mortem analysis of the mice found plastic in every organ, including the brain, where a key protein linked to brain health, GFAP, was depleted a pattern commonly observed in human depression and dementia.
The suspicion that microplastics affect the nervous system is supported by human studies detecting the particles in the brains of dementia patients and in the arterial plaques of people with heart disease. In one study, individuals with plastic-laden plaques were nearly five times more likely to suffer a stroke, heart attack, or die within three years.
Unanswered Questions and Consumer Tests
The new data has prompted some individuals to seek answers. One reporter’s personal test using a commercial Plastictox kit detected four microscopic particles in a single drop of blood, which the lab estimated was equivalent to 200,000 plastic particles circulating in her bloodstream.
However, researchers caution that the field is young and no one knows what a “safe” level of microplastic looks like. Prof. Stephanie Wright, a microplastics researcher at Imperial College London, called consumer tests “very premature,” emphasizing the difficulty in making definitive links.
“We just have to understand whether there’s anything about these particles that makes them disproportionately harmful,” Wright stated, while Dr. Vahitha Abdul Salam at Queen Mary University of London added that the type, shape, and size of the particles may all influence their harmful effects.
Practical Steps to Minimize Exposure
Despite the knowledge gaps, many researchers are adopting personal protective measures. Scientists agree that minimizing exposure is a sensible precaution, particularly concerning heat and friction.
Experts recommend:
• Avoiding heat and plastic: Never cook or reheat food in plastic containers or with plastic utensils.
• Opting for alternatives: Use glass or stainless-steel containers, and wooden chopping boards instead of plastic, which can contaminate food.
• Rethinking beverages: Switch from plastic-sealed teabags to loose-leaf tea.
• Addressing airborne particles: Use more natural fibers for bedding and minimize time next to heavy traffic, as tire-wear is a significant source of exposure.
• Scrutinizing cosmetics: Check labels for hidden plastics like polyethylene or polypropylene in lotions, lipsticks, and personal care products.
The good news, according to Dr. Ross, is that older people do not appear to have significantly higher levels of microplastics than younger people, suggesting the body may have a natural mechanism for expulsion. Identifying ways to “expedite this natural process if it exists is likely to be a significant research focus in the coming years.”