Study reveals microplastics can enter human brain through nasal pathway
Microplastics can reach the human brain through the nasal passages, raising significant health concerns, a new study has found.
Published in the journal JAMA Network Open, the research identified plastic fragments in the olfactory bulbs – a brain region responsible for detecting smells – in eight out of 15 deceased people who had lived in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
It found 16 synthetic polymer particles and fibres within these brain regions.
Most of the microplastics were particles, with polypropylene being the most common polymer detected. Other materials included nylon and polyethylene.
The discovery adds to a growing body of evidence about the widespread presence of microplastics in the human body, with recent studies finding these pollutants in the lungs, liver, and blood.
First of its kind
This study, published on Tuesday, is the first to document the presence of microplastics in human brain tissue directly.
The potential health implications of microplastics entering the brain are still under investigation, but concerns are mounting over their possible neurotoxic effects.
“Our findings reveal that microplastics can be present in the olfactory bulbs,” the study authors said.
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