Scientists from the University of Sao Paulo of Brazil and Free University of Berlin have discovered microplastics in the human brain. Plastic particles can penetrate there through the nose. The results of the study were published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
Scientists thoroughly examined the brain structures of 15 deceased residents of Sao Paulo, who had died at the ages between 33 and 100. During the research, particles of synthetic polymer—plastic particles—were found in the olfactory bulbs of 8 out of 15 subjects.
The most commonly found was polypropylene, which is widely used in a variety of industries, including packaging, clothing, and plastic. Experts believe that microplastic enters the body through the respiratory tract.
Other studies have already shown that soot particles can also be found in the olfactory bulb due to air pollution, rarely amoebas are found there, which cause a fatal form of encephalitis.
The new data have expanded the list of plastic particles.
Until then, scientists had found microplastics in the lungs, intestines, blood, ovaries, and human semen. However, it was assumed that the blood-brain barrier can protect the brain from the penetration of plastic particles.