Average human brain contains enough plastic fragments to make a spoon

The brain has higher concentrations of plastic particles compared to other organs, with increased levels found in dementia patients. In a comprehensive commentary published in Brain Medicine, researchers highlight alarming new evidence of microplastic accumulation in human brain tissue, offering

University of New Mexico Health Sciences researchers have detected microplastics in human brains at much higher concentrations than in other organs – and the plastic accumulation appears to be growing over time, having increased 50% over just the past...

Researchers are studying how microplastics accumulate in the brain and their potential effects on cancer risk

A team of University of New Mexico scientists found that the human brain is the organ with the highest concentration of microplastics and nanoplastics compared to the liver or kidney. The study, led by Matthew Campen, looked at the brains of people in New Mexico who died in 2016 and 2024. It also included samples from people who died from 1997- 2013 on the east coast. The total mass concentration of plastics in the analyzed brains increased by about 50% in the 2024 sample compared to the 2016 sample, according to the study.

Human brains contain higher concentrations of microplastics than other organs, according to a new study, and the amount appears to be increasing over time.

Brains from 2024 had more plastics than those from 2016

Groundbreaking Study Reveals Microplastic Presence in Human Brains A recent study published in the journal Nature Medicine has uncovered

As we navigate through the conveniences of modern life, we often overlook the invisible companions that journey with us: microplastics. These tiny particles, once thought to be a concern primarily for marine life, have now been found in a place much closer to home – our brains. A recent study has revealed a startling accumulation […]

A new study found that the brain may contain higher levels of microplastics, equivalent to the amount found in a standard plastic spoon, than other organs in the body

The amount of tiny plastic particles found in human brains increased dramatically from 2016 to 2024

Microplastics have been found in the brain, showing they can cross the blood-brain barrier, and the amounts of the tiny plastic bits inside our bodies appear to be increasing at a rate that reflects the increasing amount of global plastic waste.

By Douglas Main A new study has found high concentrations of tiny plastic particles in human brain samples,  with levels appearing to climb over time. The paper, published Monday in the journal Nature Medicine, found nanoplastics in each of the brain samples studied, and found a potential link between the presence of the plastics and several types of dementia. “There’s much more plastic in our brains than I ever would have imagined or been comfortable with,” said Matthew Campen, a doctor and researcher at the University of New Mexico who is  the lead author of the study. The median concentration in brain samples collected from people who died in 2024 was nearly 5 micrograms of plastic per gram of brain tissue, tallying almost 0.5% by weight. This total was 50% higher than it was just eight year prior, from brain samples acquired in 2016 (for various reasons, most brain samples become available these two years). This suggests the concentration of microplastics found in human brains is going up as plastic waste and microplastic pollution increases. “You can draw a line — it’s increasing over time. It’s consistent with what you’re seeing in the environment,” Campen said.

A new study finds that microplastics and nanoplastics accumulate at higher levels in the brain than in the liver and kidney.

A groundbreaking study has detected microplastics in human brain tissue for the first time, raising concerns about their potential health impacts.

Discover the journey of microplastics to the brain, potential health impacts, and ways to mitigate risks in this comprehensive exploration of a growing concern.

Researchers have found evidence of microplastics in the olfactory bulbs of the human brain for the first time, after detecting them in the colon and the bloodstream.

Levels of microplastics in human brain samples collected earlier this year were significantly higher than the levels seen eight years ago, according to a recent preprint study. Here's how experts say you can reduce your risk of exposure.

Plastic is in our clothes, cars, mobile phones, water bottles and food containers.