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An international team found that microplastics can reach the brain just two hours after entering the body. Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna and Vassar College showed that these hazardous particles can cross barriers once thought protective.
Previously, researchers thought microplastics couldn’t cross the blood-brain barrier, which protects the central nervous system. But the new work shows these ubiquitous particles can get through.
They pose a greater threat to human health than previously thought. Once plastic reaches the brain, it can cause inflammation and disrupt neuron function. That disruption could contribute to neurological and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, says Dr. Lukas Kenner, the study’s lead author.
What scientists have learned
In their experiments, researchers tracked how plastic particles consumed with food moved through the bodies of six mice.
They wanted to know whether microplastics can cross the blood-brain barrier, the network of blood vessels and tissues that shields the brain from harmful substances.
The researchers found that particles as small as 0.001 mm penetrated the brain within two hours. Dr. Lukas Kenner and his colleagues published the details in the journal Nanomaterials.
A brief overview of microplastic
Microplastics are small pieces of synthetic polymers measuring less than five millimeters. They are widespread and pose risks to human health and the environment.
They appear in food, packaging, and bottled water. They also turn up in kitchen utensils—especially nonstick cookware—as well as clothing, toys, and other household items, the Daily Mail reported.
Microplastics have been detected in the organs of embryos in the womb and in breast milk. A report from the University of Minnesota found microplastics in roughly 80 percent of the world’s drinking water supplies.
