Warning as Microplastics Escape Gut to 'Infiltrate' Brain
NewsweekApr 22
Study: Microplastics Found in Brain
Above: Loose plastic bottles ready for recycling on July 2024 in Malden, London, United Kingdom. Image copyright: Peter Dazeley/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
New research from scientists based in Brazil and published in the journal JAMA Network Open has found microplastics in the brain tissue of deceased people.
The study analyzed the corpses of 12 men and three women, all of whom died between the ages of 33 and 100. They found eight of them contained microplastics — 5.5-26.4 micrometers (1/25,000th of an inch) in size — in the brain's olfactory bulb, the part that processes smell.
The Spin
Narrative A
As more and more research is being conducted, it's become quite clear that microplastics have permeated everything and everyone. However, as plastic remains an important part of our daily lives, and research has yet to prove exactly how dangerous it actually is to the human body, we should be careful not to overreact with fear.
Narrative B
People have every right to know exactly how much plastic they're consuming and how it's affecting their bodies — from their bloodstream to their reproductive organs. Unfortunately, health agencies like the US Food and Drug Administration try to downplay these risks, leading to the public ignoring this extremely important issue. Government regulators must take this more seriously before it's too late.