Study shows increasing accumulation of microplastics in brain
A study published by the US National Institutes of Health, undergoing peer review, has shown an increasing bioaccumulation of microplastics in human brains.
Applying pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry methods to quantify environmental micro- and nanoplastics (MNP) from human samples, researchers compared accumulation in kidneys, livers and brains.
Autopsy samples from the Office of the Medical Investigator in Albuquerque collected in 2016 and in 2024 were analysed for 12 polymers including polyethylene, nylon 66, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), nylon 6 and polyurethane (PU).
Brains exhibited higher concentrations of MNPs than liver or kidney samples.
All organs exhibited significant increases from 2016 to 2024 and polyethylene was the predominant polymer.
The researchers said: “We have high confidence that MNPs selectively accumulate in the brain, with the majority being nanometer-scale, shard-like particulates. However, linking MNP concentration data to health outcomes in larger cohorts will require refinements to the technique, more complex study designs and larger cohorts.”
