Even this because of microplastics? ...50 per cent more observation in brain after 8 years
Feb 04, 2025
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This is the result of a study by researchers at the University of New Mexico published in Nature Medicine on the 3rd (local time).
According to the paper, which investigated the trend of human pollution of microplastics through body dissection, 7 to 30 times more microplastics were measured in the kidneys and livers of corpses in early 2024 than in 2016. In the brain, 50% more microplastics were observed in 2024 than in 2016. The concentration also increased by 50%.
The researchers noted that in the brains of people diagnosed with dementia before death, there are three to five times more plastic fragments such as fragments than healthy people. In particular, such plastic pieces are smaller than those seen with the naked eye and are concentrated in the walls of arteries and veins, and brain immune cells. In addition, it was found that the brain of dementia patients not only has a high concentration of microplastics, but also has a place where plastic is sucked in due to atrophy of inflammatory cells and brain tissue.
Experts say that although there is no clear evidence yet that microplastics cause certain diseases, they should be cautious about the possibility of adverse health effects.
Microplastics, which are solid plastic particles with a length or diameter of less than 5mm, are known to break away from daily plastic tools and enter the human body through food, water, and breathing, which can cause various health problems. Studies have shown that it can cause not only respiratory diseases, but also inflammatory reactions, organ damage, and reproductive toxicity.
Meanwhile, according to a study conducted by Newcastle University in Australia, the average amount of microplastics consumed is 2,000 per week, which is equivalent to one credit card weighing about 5 grams.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
