Microplastics are in the news again. And let’s just say it isn’t good.
As their name implies, microplastics occur when plastics break down into teeny particles, that we can easily ingest through the beverages we drink, the food we eat and even the air we breathe. As a result, scientists are finding more micro-(or nano-) plastics in our bodies and organs which can lead to a myriad of scary health problems, including, as we reported here, an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and early death from any cause.
Now, a study published in Nature Medicine suggests that these tiny invaders may be accumulating in our brains in record numbers. Researchers from the University of New Mexico found 50 percent more microplastics in the brains of people autopsied in 2024, when compared with those in 2016. And if that’s not concerning enough, people with dementia had up to 10 times more microplastics in their brain tissue than those without the condition.
Even so, researchers caution that this does not necessarily mean the microplastics cause dementia. To determine a cause-and-effect relationship, more research is needed.
“We are just at the cusp of understanding what these things might be doing to our bodies,” one of the authors of the study, Matthew Campen, Ph.D., told Katie Couric Media.
For the study, researchers also measured the levels of microplastics in the liver and kidney but significantly more of the material was found in brain tissue— approximately seven to 30 times as much. Per CNN, the tiny shards of plastic found in normal individuals was the “equivalent of an entire plastic spoon.”
These small particles of plastic are often no bigger than a micron (a millionth of a meter). They are so tiny that they can be invisible to the naked eye and can easily be ingested or inhaled without us even knowing.
Many food items, especially seafood, can be contaminated with the material. Drinking water, particularly bottled water, can also contain these tiny particles. Microplastics are also present in the air we breathe, especially in urban areas with high levels of pollution. Many everyday products, including cosmetics, toothpaste, and cleaning products, can contain microplastics.
According to Medical News Today: “Researchers estimate that the average person consumes between 78,000 and 211,000 microplastic particles every year through drinking water, foods contaminated by microplastics, and breathing microplastics-containing air.”
Given the fact that plastic is so ubiquitous around the globe, how can we protect ourselves? It goes without saying that it’s nearly impossible to eliminate these plastics completely from our lives, but there are some simple steps we can take to reduce our exposure by choosing alternatives to plastic in the kitchen. For example:
Use glass or stainless steel containers for storing food and beverages, as these materials do not break down into harmful particles. (If you do use plastic storage containers, avoid cleaning them in the dishwasher, as this could cause the plastic to break down more quickly.) Consider using plastic-free food wrappings as well, such as beeswax or cloth bowl covers.
For kitchen utensils, bowls, and cutting boards, go with wood or bamboo instead of plastic.
When it comes to water or other beverages packaged in plastic containers, try to avoid them as much as possible, experts say. Or, at the very least, transfer your beverage to a glass container once you are home. Similarly, if your takeout food arrives in a plastic container, don’t reheat in the microwave. Instead transfer to a microwave-safe container like glass or ceramic before reheating to help prevent potential pollutants from leaching into your food.
Some tea bags, along with their strings, can contain microplastics like polypropylene, which can be released through the brewing process. In fact, a study from 2024 found that tea bags made from polypropylene shed over one billion tiny pieces of plastic per milliliter of tea. A safer option is to use tea bags made entirely of paper or other plant-based materials, or steep loose-leaf tea in a stainless steel infuser.
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Content on this site is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns regarding a medical condition.
