For the first time, microplastics have been found in the brain. Scientists conclude that people are inhaling these harmful particles.
Plastic fibres and particles have been found in the brains of several deceased people. They are thought to have come from clothing, bottles and food packaging.
Experts warn that the plastic is penetrating and potentially altering cells, saying there can be “no doubt” about the dangers to human health.
Scientists conducted the study on brain samples from 15 people in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Traces of polypropylene were found in eight of them.
The microplastics were found in the part of the brain known as the olfactory bulb, which sits above the nasal passages and processes information about smells and passes it on to other parts of the brain.
Researchers discovered traces of plastic fibers and particles in the brains of people who died
They were also present in the nose, reinforcing the idea that this is an important entry point to the brain.
Researchers fear that concentrations of smaller nanoplastics, which more easily enter the human body, will be even higher.
Professor Thais Mauad, lead researcher at the University of São Paulo, said: ‘This study shows that the olfactory pathway is a major potential entry route for plastics to the brain. This means that breathing in indoor spaces could be a major source of plastic pollution in the brain.
‘Because much smaller nanoplastics enter the body more easily, the total content of plastic particles can be much higher.
“What is worrying is the ability of such particles to be taken up by cells and change the way our bodies function.”
Globally, 500 million tons of plastic are produced each year. Scientists have highlighted the risks that arise as this plastic breaks down.
According to experts, you can reduce your exposure to microplastics by replacing plastic in your home with natural materials, metal and glass.
The substance was only discovered in the 20th century, but is increasingly found in our bodies, for example in babies in the womb and in breast milk.
Scientists have compiled a list of over 16,000 chemicals found in plastic products, of which over 4,000 are considered harmful to human health and the environment.
Researchers are increasingly concerned about the possibility that such particles can be taken up into cells and cause changes in cell function, especially when interacting with organs in children. They can also cause permanent changes in adults.
There is growing evidence that plastics may play a significant role in early-stage cancer development, where healthy cells develop into cancer cells.
You could be ingesting a huge amount of microplastics just by cutting your food on a plastic cutting board
Earlier this year, a study found that cancer cells in the intestines spread more rapidly after contact with microplastics.
Maria Westerbos, co-founder of the Plastic Health Council, said: ‘Scientists are repeatedly peeling the veil off the dangerous effects of plastic on human health. There can be no doubt about that any more.
‘The international community is just months away from final negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty, and yet policymakers are giving in to the petrochemical giants.
‘The international community cannot waste any more time, it must finally listen to science once and for all.’