Roberta De Carolis In the placenta, in the cardiovascular tree and in the brain: here micro and nanoplastics, now everywhere, accumulate in a particular way, with long-term consequences that are not yet entirely clear but certainly not positive. These are the shocking results of a study commissioned by VERA Studio to a group of experts from the University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli'
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Unfortunately, microplastics and nanoplastics are everywhere. A stunning study commissioned by VERA Studio and conducted by researchers from the University of Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’ shows that such particles predominantly accumulate in the placenta, cardiovascular system, and brain, reaching alarming concentrations.
“All the plastic we cannot see – a Report on Micro and Nanoplastics in the Human Body”
The title of this research is All the Plastic We Cannot See – A Report on Micro and Nanoplastics in the Human Body. The study showed that MNP levels in the brain of an average adult who weighs approximately 3 pounds equal about one-third of a standard 50-ounce plastic bottle.
The exposure to these particles by humans is unavoidable, as the use of plastic products is increasing and microplastics persist in the environment, state the authors of this study, raising serious human health risks.
Various routes of MNP exposure to which humans are subjected are difficult to trace, but the presence of microplastics in food, drinking water, beverages, and plastic packaging constitutes direct evidence of regular dietary exposure.
Just over a year ago, research led by the Medical University of Vienna demonstrated that these omnipresent pollutants could reach the brain in as little as two hours from the time of ingestion, easily passing through the blood-brain barrier.
Though the long-term effects remain to be seen, plastic particles in the brain could increase the risk of inflammation of neurological disorders, and possibly even neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, according to researchers.
The presence of MNP in the placenta, while distressing, is not a new discovery. In 2020 an Italian study reported microplastics in the placentas of four women in good health with uncomplicated pregnancies. Less than a year ago, the University of New Mexico confirmed microplastics were present in every human placenta it tested.
Are we doomed?
Micro and nanoplastics turned out to be not only very pervasive-they had been found even in the Arctic-but also quite persistent, which makes it hardly possible to remove them from the environment. Nevertheless, there is still a chance to reduce exposure.
“To decrease the exposure to MNP, preventive strategies are required,” say the authors, “such as limited use of plastics, choosing goods with minimal or no plastic packaging, and switching to alternative materials in everyday consumption.”
While government policies can make all the difference in reversing the trend, we ourselves can also make the difference.
“This report,” the researchers conclude, “suggests that simple lifestyle changes, if adopted en masse, could significantly reduce human exposure to microplastics and the environmental spread of plastic.” They give examples of how exposure can be reduced:
- Limiting the use of plastic food and beverage containers
- Avoidance of microwaving of food in plastic containers
- Omitting pre-wash cycles in washes of clothing
- Avoiding synthetic items, more specifically apparel items made from recycled polyester
This presentation was presented at the Planetary Health Festival, October 3-5, 2024, Verona, Italy.
