From the food we eat to the clothes we wear to the air we breathe, humans are consuming about five grams of microplastics every week. And some of it is ending up in our brains.
Driving the news: Researchers have found 50% more plastic particles in today’s human brains compared to samples from 2016. On average, the study found that 0.48% of human brains are now made up of plastic. Contaminated foods and drinks are the main culprit.
- Containers and packaging like bottles, bags, and food wrappers shed microplastics into the food and liquid they’re holding, especially when they’re exposed to heat.
Why it matters: While the effects of ingesting millions of particles of plastic aren’t clear yet, scientists are pretty sure the answer is ‘bad.’ Studies have already linked the presence of microplastics in organs to increased risk of dementia, cancer, and heart disease.
Bottom line: Some microplastics are unavoidable, but experts say that limiting the use of plastic cups, bags, and bottles and avoiding foods wrapped in plastic film goes a long way. And if that sounds like a lot of work, at least stop microwaving your Tupperware.—LA