Real Life Operation: How Plastic Lives in Your Body

Microplastics They are small plastic particles that drain everything made of plastic, not larger than rice grains. Made from plastic packaging to plastic bags, plastic kitchenware clothing, and polyester, plastic textiles. Plastics are made from oils with toxic chemicals used to provide the specific quality that plastic products require.

When these microplastics are washed away, they enter our water supply, our oceans, our homes, our air, and even the food chain itself. new the study We are increasingly finding the link between these microplastics and inhalation of toxic chemicals that leach out in a variety of serious health issues. From respiratory and cardiovascular issues to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

What researchers are discovering is that microplastics and their additive chemicals can potentially affect human health in a variety of ways. Like games, operations, your organs are almost as full of plastic as games. So this is an overview of some of the most compelling studies to date about how certain parts of our bodies are affected.

Mouse and male brain

Research, just Published in Nature Medicine magazineanalysed some samples of major organs, including the brains of 28 people who died in 2016, and compared them with the 24 people who died in 2024 (and major organs) who died just eight years later. The concentration of microplastics in brain tissue was high and has been increasing since 2016.

The microplastics discovered were plastic nano fragments. 75% of that was made from polyethylene. It is most commonly used to make plastic bags and food packaging.

Another study In September 2024, we studied the brains of 15 deceased people. Scientists examined the olfactory bulbs of the human brain that were analyzed via Micro Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Microplastics were found in eight individual olfactory bulbs, mainly in the form of microparticles and fibers. In this study, polypropylene was the most frequently identified polymer.

All this backs up previous research from August 2023 study George and Anne Ryan Institute of Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island. This revealed that microplastics can cross the blood-brain barrier in mice, which potentially contribute to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

Their research shows that exposure to microplastics led to a reduction in glial fibrotic acid protein (GFAP), a protein essential to support a variety of brain cell processes, such as communication. Decreasing GFAP levels are associated with early stages of neurodegenerative disease, as well as depression.

Microplastic exposure is also associated with behavioral changes and changes in immune markers in the brain. these Survey results It suggests that microplastics can lead to cognitive impairment and even behavioral problems.

lung

It's not just the brain. Microplastics have also been detected in human lungs, raising concerns about the effects on respiratory health. the study Published in January 2024 by the Sydney Institute of Technology, it has shown that inhaling small plastic particles can lead to inflammation, oxidative stress and pulmonary dysfunction.

The ultrafine size of microplastics allows them to move deep into the airways, potentially reaching the alveoli where the critical process of gas exchange occurs. This opens the door to long-term health risks. Asthma and COPD.

Furthermore, long-term exposure has been shown to increase inflammation in lung tissue, attract inflammatory cells, and cause macrophage aggregation. This increased immune response can damage lung tissue over time, making individuals more vulnerable to respiratory diseases.

There is an upcoming concern for microplastics that move beyond direct lung damage and through the bloodstream to other organs. This can have systemic consequences that affect critical systems such as the cardiovascular system and immune system. The possibility of microplastics acting as a vector of harmful chemicals or pathogens is added only to the alarm.

heart

Our brains and lungs are not alone. Microplastics have also been discovered in the human mind. In a groundbreaking research published in New England Journal of Medicinescientists analyzed carotid plaques from 257 patients undergoing surgery to remove fatty deposits from the arteries in their necks. Researchers discovered microplastics in 58% of plaque, suggesting that these particles may be embedded in the arterial wall.

Over the 34-month average follow-up period, participants with microplastic plaques containing microplastics were found to be 4.5 times more likely to experience a heart attack than employees without microplastic contamination. Ta. This finding raises great concern about the potential role of microplastics in the development of atherosclerosis. This is a condition in which fat deposits accumulate in the arteries, limiting blood flow and increasing the chance of severe cardiovascular events.

Furthermore, the presence of microplastics in arterial plaques is also correlated with increased risk of stroke, further highlighting its potential role in the pathophysiology of vascular disease. These findings suggest that microplastics not only contribute to the physical accumulation of fatty deposits, but also exacerbate inflammation and oxidative stress within the vasculature, leading to the progression of atherosclerosis. I'm doing it.

A series of evidence suggesting microplastics for cardiovascular health highlights the urgent need for further research to understand the broader implications for public health by these particles affecting arterial plaque formation. Masu.

Intestines

Microplastics are also a serious and often overlooked threat to intestinal health, affecting the gastrointestinal system through a variety of biological mechanisms. Many studies have shown that microplastic exposure can alter the gut microbiota, and there is much evidence that these small particles disrupt the delicate balance of gut bacteria.

2021 study Published in Environmental International Microplastic exposures can be seen to significantly shift the composition of the gut microbiota in both animal models and humans, promoting surgical symptoms, a state of microbial imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria. I did. This shift to dispersal is linked to the pathogenesis of several gastrointestinal disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, as well as metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes.

If the risk is further exacerbated, microplastics can interact directly with the intestinal layer. Research published in Natural Nanotechnology In 2020, we demonstrated that microplastics physically damage intestinal cells, leading to increased intestinal permeability, commonly known as the “leaky intestine.” This disruption of intestinal barrier function allows harmful substances such as toxins, pathogens and undigested food particles to leak into the bloodstream, causing systemic inflammation and immune responses. These violations in the intestinal lining are associated with many health issues, ranging from autoimmune diseases to chronic inflammatory conditions.

Furthermore, studies have shown that microplastics themselves act as vectors for toxic substances including endocrine enriched chemicals and heavy metals, further exacerbating their harmful effects on intestinal health and contribute to systemic toxicity. . Research published in 2022 The science of the total environment It has been found that microplastics adsorb harmful chemicals from the environment, such as pesticides and industrial pollutants, and transfers them to the digestive system upon ingestion.

This in vivo accumulation can have serious long-term health effects, including liver and kidney damage and hormonal balance destruction.

reproduction

Microplastics have emerged as a critical human health risk that has the potential to disrupt various organs and systems within the human body, including the reproductive system.

Characteristics of endocrine depression Microplastics concerns are particularly concerning. These small particles have been shown to interfere with the body's hormonal regulation, leading to a cascade of effects that may contribute to reproductive toxicity. Microplastics, especially those in the form of nano-sized particles, can mimic or block the action of natural hormones, destroying the delicate balance required for normal reproductive function.

This phenomenon is primarily due to the adsorption of endocrine disintegrating chemicals (EDCs) onto the surface of microplastics. Bisphenol A (BPA), Phthalatesand Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB)is known to interfere with estrogen, testosterone and thyroid hormones.

a study by Peng et al. in Environmental Pollution It highlighted how microplastics act as vectors for these EDCs, promoting various negative effects on reproductive health for both males and females.

This study found that exposure to microplastics disrupts the estrogen receptor signaling pathway, an important mechanism involved in the regulation of ovarian and testicular function. In particular, this study pointed out the possibility that microplastics can increase the risk of conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in women and lower testosterone levels in men. Both are related to the issue of fertility. Furthermore, the ability of microplastics to surpass biological barriers, including blood testis and barriers to blood deviations, poses them a particularly insidious threat to reproductive health.

Regarding direct impact on fertility rates, study Leading Itishree dubey The impact of microplastics on reproductive function has been further clarified from the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education. This research was published in 2021 Toxicology and applied pharmacologyfound that microplastic exposure leads to reduced sperm motility, reduced sperm count, and lower testosterone levels in male rats (lower testosterone levels in male rats).Black et al. , 2021).

These findings suggest that microplastics may interfere with male fertility by directly affecting sperm function and hormone production. Furthermore, this study showed that female rats exposed to microplastics experienced the confusion of estrus cycles and ovarian dysfunction associated with mammalian infertility.

Other studies point to the more systematic effects of microplastics on the reproductive organs. in study Published in Natural CommunicationIt has been found that it accumulates in rat ovaries and testes, causing inflammation and oxidative stress. This is known to impair reproductive functions. result.

The increased presence of microplastics in the human body raises serious health concerns. That's why Earthday.org is working to end plastic production. I encourage you to sign and join us in our fight Global Plastics Treaty Petitions appealing to the United Nations and governments around the world to pledge to reduce all fossil fuel-based plastic production by 60% by 2040. Do you want to go outside and make an immediate impact? Please use us Global Cleanup Map Find a cleanup near you and pick up some plastic.