A recent study has found that brain tissue contains significantly higher amounts of microplastics than other organs. The research, published in the journal Nature Medicine, analyzed 47 cadaver samples from various locations, including the brain, liver, and kidney.
The results showed that brain samples contained approximately 10 times more microplastics than the other organs, with an average amount of 4,800 micrograms per gram. This is equivalent to the amount found in a standard plastic spoon.
According to Dr. Stephanie Widmer, a medical toxicologist not involved in the study, the findings are not yet cause for major concern. While microplastics are widespread in the environment, it’s unclear what the full health impacts of ingesting them are.
The study also found that individuals with dementia had higher levels of microplastics in their brain samples, which may have accumulated in blood vessel walls and immune cells. However, the researchers emphasized that this does not prove a causal link between microplastics and diseases.
Polyethylene, the most common type of plastic used in medical devices and other products, made up 75% of the microplastics found in brain tissue. The study’s authors noted that detection methods may have missed smaller particles or misidentified materials, and the small sample size limits conclusions about the body’s handling of these plastics.
Widmer added that the field of microplastic research is still in its infancy, and more studies are needed to fully understand the impact of microplastics on human health.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/brain-tissue-higher-amounts-microplastics-organs-study/story?id=118431630