Microplastics are already a public health concern, and numerous studies are being conducted to determine the degree of harm they bring to our bodies. A new study paints an even more ominous picture. Microplastics introduced through drinking water collected in practically every area of the mammal’s bodies, including the brain, according to a mouse investigation.
These mice even had behavioral alterations similar to dementia in people. The study suggests that microplastics are overcoming the immunological barrier between the rest of the body and the neurological system and entering the brain.
Insights from the microplastics study: Implications for human health
According to ScienceAlert, the study was conducted by scientists from the University of Rhode Island and published in the International Journal of Molecular Science.
“To us, this was striking. These were not high doses of microplastics, but in only a short period, we saw these changes,” explains neuroscientist Jaime Ross as quoted on the University of Rhode Island website.
“Nobody really understands the life cycle of these microplastics in the body, so part of what we want to address is the question of what happens as you get older. Are you more susceptible to systemic inflammation from these microplastics as you age? Can your body get rid of them as easily? Do your cells respond differently to these toxins?”
It is not a given that data produced in mouse tests would directly point to possible impacts on humans, but such a study is frequently the first step in determining how humans are affected. In this experiment, young and aged mice were given water laced with luminous polystyrene microplastics. To create a baseline, some of the mice were given regular water.
It was a three-week experimental period. During open-field experiments, the mice’s behavior was constantly watched. These tests encouraged risk-taking behavior.
Behavioral changes and widespread microplastic presence in mice
When compared to a control group of mice who were given regular water to drink, the mice who drank microplastic-contaminated water for three weeks exhibited substantial behavioral alterations. These modifications appeared to be more pronounced in older mice.
After three weeks, the researchers discovered that microplastics were present in all of the tissues investigated in the mice. The organs consisted of the liver, kidneys, heart, spleen, lungs, and, most crucially, the brain. Microplastics were even discovered in the excretions of mice.
According to ScienceAlert, the present study supported similar conclusions reached in previous studies. An international team of experts conducted one of these studies earlier this year, while the other was carried out last year by experts in Taiwan.