Since industrialization, synthetic plastics like nylon, PVC, and polyethylene have replaced natural materials in our manufactured goods. These plastics have become vital in our everyday products. As plastic litter accumulated globally, the breakdown of the plastics due to photodegradation–plastic items breaking down from sunlight and other forces–became apparent. These large plastics slowly became microplastics or small, minuscule plastic particles that are harder to identify by eye. As research continued to develop, microplastics from a variety of consumer products, such as clothes, toys, etc., were discovered, which plagued our environments and oceans. Over time, they were not only discovered on land but in organisms, including humans.
Microplastics are especially worrying since plastic is made to hardly ever break down, unlike natural materials. Some scientists estimate that most adults ingest or inhale around one credit card per week in microplastics. It’s hard to imagine, but microplastics dwell in the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the water we drink. Additionally, microplastics have been found in nearly every part of the human body, including the blood, brain, heart, skin, saliva, and a multitude of other organs. Even more worryingly, human brains have the highest concentration of microplastics. This concentration has increased drastically over time as plastic continues to accumulate.
Should we really be worried? Microplastics in your body are probably not the greatest concern in your day-to-day life; however, they have been linked to not only massive ecological impacts, but also harmful effects on human health.
Due to the difficulty of detecting microplastics, research continues to be shrouded in speculation. Overall, a greater amount of microplastics was found to cause cell inflammation and possibly mess with cell functions. Some studies found that a higher concentration of microplastics in the carotid arteries–arteries that deliver blood to the brain–was related to higher risks of stroke. Other scientists, focusing on the brain, speculate that there is a relationship between microplastics in the brain and dementia. This is primarily because microplastics and nanoplastics can cross the blood-brain barrier and activate an immune response, which over time can lead to neuroinflammation. Neuroinflammation is a key contributor to dementia.
Other organs, like the digestive system, are also impacted. Microplastics may affect nutrient absorption, metabolism, gut microbiota, and cause oxidative stress. Overall, microplastics show negative impacts on human health in many different forms, which all work in conjunction with each other.
It seems there is little people can do to reduce plastic absorption. Though there are ways to reduce plastic consumption. This includes avoiding heating plastic, using fewer plastic utensils, staying away from bottled water, and vacuuming often.
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