Researchers in Germany and Brazil conducted a study that found microplastics in the olfactory bulb of 8 out 15 adults. The bulb is the part of the brain responsible for smelling.
This study, published by JAMA Network Open in its journal, suggests that the particles inhaled were likely inhaled for many years because microplastics are dispersed widely in the air.
Thais Mauad is the lead author of the study and associate professor of pathology, University of Sao Paulo Medical School. She said, “Previous studies on humans and animals showed that air pollution reached the brain, and that particles were found in the bulb of the nose. This is why we believe the olfactory is one of the first places for microplastics in the brain.”
The study found microplastics in olfactory bulbs ranging from 5.5 micrometers to 26.4 micrometers. Polypropylene was the most common type, followed by nylon, polyamide and polyethylene vinyl-acetate.
Mauad emphasized the widespread use of polypropylene, which is found in furniture, clothing, and rugs. Indoor environments are the main source of exposure. The presence of nanoplastics, which are smaller particles of plastic, may also contribute to a higher overall level of plastic particles.
It is becoming more and more apparent that these particles can be absorbed by the cells, and disrupt the body’s functions. This could have serious health consequences in adulthood. Evidence is also mounting that plastic contamination could play a major role in cancer development. A recent study found that microplastics accelerated the spread of cancerous cells in the gut.
Luis Fernando Amato – Lorenco, co-author from the Free University of Berlin in collaboration with Dr. Mauad suggested that the nasal membrane outside the brain might interact with the cerebrospinal liquid, facilitating entry of microplastics to the olfactory bulbs through small gaps between the bones.
Researchers said that the findings of their study should be a cause for concern, given the neurotoxic effects of microplastics on the brain and the widespread contamination of the environment with plastics. This is especially true in light of the growing prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders, like Parkinson’s disease and ALS.