{"id":16638,"date":"2025-02-03T21:06:59","date_gmt":"2025-02-03T21:06:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=16638"},"modified":"2025-02-03T21:07:00","modified_gmt":"2025-02-03T21:07:00","slug":"unm-led-research-find-alarming-levels-of-microplastics-in-human-brains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/unm-led-research-find-alarming-levels-of-microplastics-in-human-brains\/","title":{"rendered":"UNM-Led Research Find Alarming Levels of Microplastics in Human Brains"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">Researchers led by University of New Mexico Health Sciences have revealed that human brain tissue contains high levels of microplastics, with a significant increase over the past eight years. <\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In an urgent scientific breakthrough, researchers led by the University of New Mexico Health Sciences have discovered that microplastics \u2014 tiny fragments of degraded polymers \u2014 have accumulated in human brains at alarmingly high levels. The concentration of these plastics in brain tissue has increased by 50% over the past eight years, signaling a growing environmental and health crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a study recently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41591-024-03453-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">published<\/a> in Nature Medicine, the research team led by Matthew Campen, Distinguished and Regents\u2019 Professor at the UNM College of Pharmacy, analyzed brain tissue samples and found that plastic concentrations in the brain were significantly higher compared to other organs like the liver and kidney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis really changes the landscape. It makes it so much more personal,\u201d Campen said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/hsc.unm.edu\/news\/2025\/02\/hsc-newsroom-post-microplastics-human-brains.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study&#8217;s findings are particularly concerning given that Campen&#8217;s team observed up to 10 times the amount of plastic in the brains of individuals diagnosed with dementia compared to those without the condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The researchers, however, cautioned that the study design does not establish whether microplastics cause dementia symptoms or simply accumulate more in diseased brains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The research builds on a novel methodology developed by UNM researchers to identify and quantify microplastics in biological tissues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This technique involved chemically dissolving brain tissue, centrifuging it to isolate plastic particles and then burning the particles through a process known as pyrolysis. The emitted gasses were analyzed chromatographically, allowing the identification of 12 different polymers, with polyethylene being the most common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To visually examine the tissue samples with high polymer concentrations, the team used transmission electron microscopy. This revealed clusters of sharp plastic shards measuring 200 nanometers or less, which are small enough to infiltrate the blood-brain barrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Campen emphasized the potential risks posed by these particles, which might obstruct blood flow in brain capillaries or interfere with neuronal connections, potentially contributing to dementia-related protein aggregation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe start thinking that maybe these plastics obstruct blood flow in capillaries,\u201d he added. \u201cThere\u2019s the potential that these nanomaterials interfere with the connections between axons in the brain. They could also be a seed for aggregation of proteins involved in dementia. We just don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The findings raise questions about how microplastics enter the human body. Campen suspects ingestion through food, particularly meat, is a major source. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe way we irrigate fields with plastic-contaminated water, we postulate that the plastics build up there,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It appears that plastics concentrate in the food chain, especially in commercially-produced meat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Microplastics tend to accumulate in the fat cells of the brain\u2019s myelin sheath, which insulates neurons and plays a crucial role in signal transmission. This might help explain why brain concentrations are higher than in other organs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite ongoing global plastic production, the presence of micro- and nano-plastics in the environment is projected to increase, as existing plastics degrade over decades. Campen believes that these revelations should catalyze concern and action against this global health threat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI have yet to encounter a single human being who says, \u2018There\u2019s a bunch of plastic in my brain and I\u2019m totally cool with that,\u2019\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The comprehensive research highlights an urgent need for further investigation into the effects of microplastics on human health and calls for immediate action to reduce plastic waste and contamination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In an urgent scientific breakthrough, researchers led by the University of New Mexico Health Sciences have discovered that microplastics \u2014 tiny fragments of degraded polymers \u2014 have accumulated in human brains at alarmingly high levels. The concentration of these plastics in brain tissue has increased by 50% over the past eight years, signaling a growing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16638","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-science"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"In an urgent scientific breakthrough, researchers led by the University of New Mexico Health Sciences have discovered that microplastics \u2014 tiny fragments of degraded polymers \u2014 have accumulated in human brains at alarmingly high levels. The concentration of these plastics in brain tissue has increased by 50% over the past eight years, signaling a growing&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16638","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16638"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16638\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16668,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16638\/revisions\/16668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}