Scientists Find 'Microplastics' Accumulating Deep in Human Brains

NEW YORK, (Xinhua) - A study published in Nature Medicine reveals that microplastics are now infiltrating human brains, potentially causing harmful effects on people's health and mental well-being.

Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters, smaller than the eraser at the end of a pencil. They can be either manufactured or break off from plastic objects. Nanoplastics are even tinier, potentially being just a fraction of the width of a human hair.

The Washington Post reports that these tiny plastic pieces are penetrating the blood-brain barrier and entering human brains. The quantity of microplastics in the brain appears to be increasing over time, with research showing 50 percent more microplastic fragments in brains in 2024 compared to 2016. Scientists also examined the brains of 12 deceased patients diagnosed with dementia and discovered they contained 3-5 times more microplastics than normal brains.

In recent years, scientists have discovered that many plastic items such as plastic bags, water bottles, car tires, polyester or synthetic fiber clothing can break down into tiny pieces or fibers that are released into the air, food, and water. Many of these particles have become deeply embedded in human bodies and have been found in the liver, placenta, blood, testicles, and even in some arteries leading to the heart.

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