Recent research has unveiled a startling presence of microplastics in human brains. According to a new paper, which is yet to be peer-reviewed and is currently hosted on the National Library of Medicine website as a preprint, brain samples from cadavers show that microplastics constitute an average of 0.48% of their weight.
Research Background
Matthew Campen, a professor at the University of New Mexico who spearheaded the research, expressed his alarm to The Guardian, saying, “There’s much more plastic in our brains than I ever would have imagined or been comfortable with.” This groundbreaking study analyzed autopsy samples from human livers, kidneys, and frontal cortexes collected in Albuquerque, New Mexico, over eight years from 2016 to 2024.
Methodology of the Study
Researchers collected organs from the local medical examiner’s office, focusing on the brain’s frontal cortex, among other organs. This comprehensive analysis aimed to track the presence and increase of microplastics over time.
Findings of the Study
The findings were disturbing, with the levels of plastics in every tested organ having risen over the years. However, the increase was most notable in the brain, where the concentration of microplastics in 2024 was 50% higher on average than in 2016. The study also highlighted that the concentration in the brain was substantially higher than in the livers and kidneys by seven to 30 times. Polyethylene, a polymer commonly used in plastic bags and bottles, was the most prevalent type of plastic found.
