University of New Mexico (UNM) Health Sciences researchers have detected microplastics in human brains at much higher concentrations than in other organs – and the plastic accumulation appears to be growing over time, having increased 50% over just eight years.

Microplastics – tiny bits of degraded polymers that are ubiquitous in our air, water and soil – have lodged themselves throughout the human body, including the liver, kidney, placenta and testes, over the past half century. Now, UNM Health Sciences researchers have found microplastics in human brains, and at much higher concentrations than in other organs. Worse, the plastic accumulation appears to be growing over time, having increased by 50% over just eight years (2016 – 2024). In a study published in Nature Medicine, a team led by toxicologist Matthew Campen, PhD, Distinguished and Regents’ Professor in the UNM College of Pharmacy, reported that plastic concentrations in the brain appeared higher than in the liver or kidney, and higher than previous reports for placentas and testes.

Links:
UNM researchers find alarmingly high levels of microplastics in human brains – and concentrations are growing over time

UNM Researchers Find Alarmingly High Levels of Microplastics in Human Brains – and Concentrations are Growing Over Time – UNM

Agenda – Stop The Plastic Chew – voor een verbod op plastic kauwgom en een eerlijke ingrediëntenlijst – petitie