In recent years, we see how widespread the microplastics worldwide. Now we know that these small particles are in our oceans, foods and even in the weather we breathe. But now, scientists have found another disturbing discovery and reported that they found microplastic in high concentrations in the human brain.
A new study published in Nature Medicine examined individual examples of brain from individuals in 2016 and 2024. The findings obtained as a result of these investigations were surprising in the lightest. According to the study, there were germs and nanoplastic (even smaller particles) in all brain samples, and concentrations in new samples were 50 percent higher.
This sharp increase reflects the high rate of global plastic production, which is now exceeding 300 million tons of 300 million tons. The discovery of germs in the human brain is not completely new, but in a study published in 2024, the first evidence of this was seen. This new study caused scientists to ask more questions about how these plastics entered our brain, and according to what was seen, one of the most important ways was breathing.
The most important “input path” respiratory
When we breathe the tiny plastic particles from the indoor dust, dirty air and even synthetic fabrics, they can go from the nose to the smell onion and the smell of the brain. They can then pass through the blood-brain barrier, a protective shield designed to keep harmful substances outside. While scientists think that only the smallest of these particles could pass this barrier, the work shows that even larger germs can go through this barrier.
One of the most interesting and worrying findings in the study was that the brains of dementia individuals contained 3-5 times more germ than those who do not have this discomfort. Although this does not fully prove that germs of microplastics causes demans, it raises questions about whether or not changes in the brain allow more plastic to accumulate.
What are the effects on our health?
The health effects of germs in our brain are not fully known. Some scientists suggest that germs can contribute to inflammation or even affect the progression of diseases such as cardiovascular disorders. However, more research needs to be done to understand the complete results.
Scientists propose to reduce disposable plastics, ventilate your home and avoid plastic micro -particle products to minimize the proportion of germs in our bodies. In addition, scientists are also investigating creative solutions such as using bacteria to smash plastics and developing filters to remove them from drinking water.
This work and another study of germs in human brains last year stands out as a great call for awakening. Now, we know that plastic pollution is not only a problem for the fish in the ocean, but also a major problem for people.
