Our Brains Are Full of Microplastics, and That's a Serious Problem

A troubling study has found that our brains may attract more microplastics than any other organ, making them especially vulnerable.

Microplastic pollution is a growing environmental threat, present not only in ecosystems but also in our bodies. A recent study published in the National Library of Medicine reveals that this build up in our brains is far worse than previously thought.

Researchers discovered that our brains contain significantly higher levels of microplastics than other affected organs, raising concerns about the potential impact on brain and cognitive health.

The study, led by Professor Matthew Campen of the University of New Mexico, analyzed 91 human brain samples from autopsies. The bad news: every sample contained microplastics. Even more alarming, the concentration of these particles was 10 to 20 times higher in the brain than in the liver or kidneys.

Campen told the Guardian, "It's quite alarming... There is a lot more plastic in our brains than I ever could have imagined or accepted." In 24 of the samples, plastic made up an average of 0.5% of the total brain tissue, making the brain "one of the most plastic polluted tissues ever sampled," according to the study. But what does this mean for us?

This discovery adds to the growing list of organs where microplastics have been found, including the testicles, arteries, heart, and lungs. While the exact effects on our health are still unclear, researchers are deeply concerned.

Previous studies have linked microplastics to various health issues, including fertility problems, immune system disruptions, memory loss, and even an increase in cancers among young people. More disturbingly, Campen's study found that brain samples from people who died of dementia, including Alzheimer's, contained up to ten times more plastic by weight.

Given these findings, experts like Sedat Gündoğdu from Cukurova University are calling for urgent action: "It is now imperative to declare a global emergency," says the biologist. The rising concentration of microplastics in our environment only underscores the need for immediate action.

This is the cost of our modern lifestyle: our brains are becoming filled with plastic. We need to take action now to avoid a disaster. The health of our planet, and our own lives, depend on it.