(NEXSTAR) – The world is filled with microplastics, found in everything from the air and oceanwater to common foods like chicken and rice – and, according to a new study, even the human brain.
These tiny plastic particles can range in size from 5 millimeters (as small as a pencil eraser) to 1 nanometer, which can’t be seen with the naked eye, the Environmental Protection Agency explains on its website .
A study, posted in May , looked at the increasing levels of micro and nano plastics (MNPs) in the environment and how they might affect our health.
Researchers examined these shard-like particles in human organs – specifically the liver, kidneys, and brain – using autopsy samples collected in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from 2016 to 2024. The brain tissue samples came from the frontal cortex , which is responsible for abstract thinking, creativity, and motor tasks.
Microplastics are everywhere, but are they harming us?
The study found that the brain had higher concentrations of tiny plastics than the liver or kidneys, and the amount of plastic in all organs increased significantly over time.