Microplastics in Our Brains

March 16, 2025 / activist360

A conceptual illustration depicting human cognition, featuring a vintage anatomical drawing of a brain within a simple silhouette of a head.

What You Need to Know and How to Reduce Your Exposure

Did you know that tiny plastic particles—called microplastics—are in our food, water, and even the air we breathe? Every day, we are unknowingly consuming and inhaling microplastics. Scientists have now discovered something even more concerning: microplastics are making their way into human brains, and their levels are increasing.

This raises an important question: What does this mean for our health, and what can we do about it? While we may not be able to eliminate microplastics entirely, there are simple steps we can take to reduce our exposure and protect our health. In this article, we’ll break down what microplastics are, how they enter our bodies, the potential health risks, and practical ways to reduce our exposure.

What Are Microplastics?

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles, smaller than 5mm, that come from broken-down plastic waste, synthetic clothing, industrial processes, and food packaging. Because plastic never fully biodegrades, these particles remain in the environment indefinitely, breaking down into even smaller pieces over time.

Common Sources of Microplastics

Microplastics are found in everyday items, including:

Bottled water: Contains significantly more microplastics than tap water.
Seafood: Marine animals ingest microplastics from polluted oceans.
Processed foods: Particularly those packaged in plastic.
Tea bags: Some brands use plastic-based tea bags that release billions of plastic particles into hot water.
Air: Microplastics are floating around in household dust and city pollution.

Since we eat, drink, and breathe microplastics daily, it’s important to understand how they enter our bodies and what harm they may cause.

How Do Microplastics Get into the Human Body?

Microplastics make their way into our bodies through three primary routes:

Eating and Drinking

Bottled water drinkers ingest up to 90,000 microplastic particles per year, compared to 4,000 for tap water drinkers (Cox et al., 2019).
Seafood, processed foods, and canned goods can contain microplastics due to contamination during production and packaging.
Heating food in plastic containers releases billions of plastic particles into the food.

Breathing

Airborne microplastics are present in the air we breathe at home, in offices, and outdoors, particularly in urban areas. Additionally, synthetic clothing sheds plastic fibers into the air when it is washed or worn, further contributing to the inhalation of these particles.

Household Exposure

Cooking and storing food in plastic can cause microplastics to leach into the food we eat. Similarly, plastic tea bags and coffee pods release billions of tiny plastic particles into hot liquids, increasing overall exposure.

Because these tiny particles are everywhere, scientists are now studying how they affect our health—especially our brains.

Are Microplastics Harmful to Our Health?

While research is still ongoing, several studies have raised serious concerns about microplastics in the human body. Here’s what scientists have found so far:

Microplastics in the Brain

A recent study found microplastics in human brain tissue, with levels 3–5 times higher in people with dementia (Nihart et al., 2025). Scientists are unsure whether dementia weakens the brain’s defense, allowing more plastic in, or if microplastics contribute to cognitive decline.

Heart Disease Risk

A study found that people with plastic particles in their arteries had a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes (Marfella et al., 2024).

Gut Health Concerns

People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) had 1.5 times more microplastics in their stool compared to healthy individuals (Yan et al., 2022). Microplastics may disrupt gut bacteria and contribute to inflammation.

Other Potential Effects

Scientists suspect microplastics may also contribute to:

Hormone disruption: some plastics contain chemicals that interfere with the endocrine system.
Lung irritation: from inhaling airborne microplastics.
Long-term health risks: still being studied.

Since avoiding microplastics completely is impossible, the next best step is reducing exposure where we can.

Easy Ways to Reduce Microplastic Exposure

While plastic is everywhere, simple daily changes can significantly lower the amount of microplastics we ingest and inhale.

Switch to Tap Water: Drinking tap water instead of bottled water can reduce microplastic intake by over 90%. Use a water filter if concerned about contaminants.
Avoid Heating Food in Plastic: Use glass or stainless steel containers instead of plastic. Never microwave food in plastic containers.
Choose Fresh or Frozen Foods Over Canned: Canned foods can release chemicals like BPA, which is linked to hormone disruption. Opt for fresh, frozen, or glass-packaged alternatives.
Use Cloth or Metal Tea Strainers: Avoid plastic tea bags—opt for loose-leaf tea with a stainless steel infuser.
Improve Air Quality: Use a HEPA air filter at home to remove airborne microplastics. Vacuum regularly to reduce plastic dust indoors.

These small changes can make a big difference in reducing everyday exposure.

Can Microplastics Be Removed from the Body?

Right now, scientists don’t know if microplastics can be fully removed from the human body, but some early research suggests:

Sweating may help: Some studies suggest that sweating (through exercise or sauna use) can help excrete plastic-related chemicals like BPA.
Healthy lifestyle choices: Staying hydrated, eating fiber-rich foods, and regular exercise may help the body naturally eliminate toxins.
Long-term exposure reduction: The best strategy is reducing intake in the first place.

More research is needed, but reducing microplastic exposure now is the safest approach.

Small Changes Make a Big Difference

Microplastics are everywhere, and while we can’t avoid them completely, we can take practical steps to limit exposure and protect our health. By making the choices we suggested above, you can help protect your health while also reducing plastic pollution in the environment.

It’s crucial to hold local, state, and national elected officials accountable for policies that protect your health and the well-being of your loved ones. Be mindful of who you vote for, and once they are in office, advocate for strong regulations that reduce plastic pollution and safeguard public health. Your voice matters—demand action.

Sources: Nihart et al., 2025 – Study on microplastics in the human brain (Nature Medicine). Marfella et al., 2024 – Microplastics and heart disease (New England Journal of Medicine). Cox et al., 2019 – Microplastic consumption (Environmental Science & Technology).

Are Biodegradable Plastics Truly Eco-Friendly? Unpacking the Facts for a Sustainable Future

October 27, 2024 / activist360

Impact Characterization of Biodegradable Plastics
Credit: Piao, Z., Boakye, A. A. A., & Yao, Y. (2024). Environmental impacts of biodegradable microplastics. Nature Chemical Engineering, 1, 661–669.

When you hear the word “biodegradable,” what comes to mind? Many of us assume biodegradable plastics are a perfect solution for reducing plastic pollution. However, these materials have complex environmental impacts that aren’t immediately obvious. While they can help reduce certain types of pollution, they also come with hidden trade-offs, including greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

In this article, we’ll dive into the environmental impacts of biodegradable plastics, explain how Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) helps scientists understand their effects, and offer tips for more eco-friendly choices.

What Are Biodegradable Plastics?

Biodegradable plastics are materials designed to break down in the environment faster than traditional plastics. They are typically made from renewable resources, like corn starch or sugarcane, or from fossil-based sources. Common types include plant-based PLA (polylactic acid) and fossil-based PCL (polycaprolactone).

To fully understand their impact, scientists use a process called Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA). LCIA evaluates a product’s environmental footprint across its entire life cycle—from production to disposal. This is essential for understanding biodegradable plastics’ real impact on our planet, including factors like greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and waste management challenges.

Benefits of Biodegradable Plastics in Reducing Microplastic Pollution

One of the most significant benefits of biodegradable plastics is their potential to reduce microplastic pollution. Microplastics are tiny plastic fragments that pollute our oceans, rivers, and even our food and water. Because they don’t easily decompose, they accumulate in ecosystems and can harm wildlife and human health.

Biodegradable plastics offer a promising alternative. When they break down properly, they are less likely to form these harmful microplastics. Scientists assess this potential benefit through a measure in LCIA called aquatic ecotoxicity, which looks at how materials impact aquatic life. Biodegradable plastics typically score lower in aquatic ecotoxicity than traditional plastics because they break down more completely, reducing the risk of long-term pollution.

Think of biodegradable plastics like “biodegradable litter.” If disposed of properly, they disappear without leaving a trace, unlike conventional plastics that break into microplastics and linger in the environment for years.

The schematic diagram of the LCA methodology for biodegradable plastics

Hidden Costs of Biodegradable Plastics: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

While biodegradable plastics can reduce visible pollution, they aren’t without environmental costs. As these plastics break down, particularly in natural environments like rivers or forests, they can release greenhouse gases (GHGs) like methane—a potent contributor to climate change.

Here’s a surprising statistic: when PCL, a common biodegradable plastic, breaks down in a natural setting, it can emit up to 16.3 kilograms of CO₂-equivalent per kilogram of plastic. This emission rate is about 16 times higher than what it would release in an industrial composting facility.

Scientists use Global Warming Potential (GWP) within LCIA to measure how much a material contributes to climate change. For biodegradable plastics, scientists often use dynamic GWP calculations, which track greenhouse gas emissions over time rather than assuming a constant rate. This approach reveals that biodegradable plastics can emit GHGs in bursts as they break down, especially under anaerobic (low-oxygen) conditions in natural environments.

In some scenarios, biodegradable plastics that aren’t properly managed may actually emit more greenhouse gases than traditional plastics.

Role of Waste Management in Reducing Environmental Impact

The environmental impact of biodegradable plastics depends heavily on how they are disposed of. Ideally, they should be processed in industrial composting facilities, where conditions like temperature and oxygen are carefully controlled to allow these plastics to break down quickly and with minimal greenhouse gas emissions.

However, when biodegradable plastics end up in natural environments, such as lakes or soil, they break down under uncontrolled conditions, leading to increased emissions.

Think of biodegradable plastics as “biodegradable litter.” Just as litter remains litter if tossed on the ground, biodegradable plastics can still pollute if not disposed of correctly.

This brings us to the End-of-Life (EoL) Impact stage in LCIA. LCIA considers the full “end-of-life” cycle of a product to evaluate its environmental footprint based on where it ends up. Without the proper disposal infrastructure, biodegradable plastics may add to environmental pollution rather than reduce it.

What the Future Holds for Biodegradable Plastics

As scientists learn more about the impacts of biodegradable plastics, they’re working to design materials that minimize environmental costs. Using tools like LCIA, researchers can adjust physical properties—such as density, degradation rates, and carbon content—so that biodegradable plastics break down with lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduced aquatic toxicity.

LCIA helps scientists make informed design choices that balance eco-friendliness with practicality. For instance, certain plastics might be designed with an optimized Specific Surface Degradation Rate (SSDR), which controls the rate at which they break down in nature. This helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring the plastic still decomposes efficiently.

Think of it like a “recipe” for future plastics. Each ingredient—density, degradation rate, carbon content—needs to be carefully balanced to create a plastic that’s both sustainable and functional. Just as a recipe requires precision for the best result, so does the design of biodegradable plastics.

With LCIA as a guide, scientists and manufacturers can develop low-carbon biodegradable plastics that help protect the planet by reducing pollution and managing emissions.

What Can We Do to Make a Difference?

As consumers, we have a role to play in reducing plastic pollution and supporting sustainable materials. Here are some ways we can contribute:

Mindful Consumption: Choose products with minimal packaging and support companies that use sustainable materials.
Proper Disposal: Make sure biodegradable plastics go into the correct waste streams. Check local composting and recycling guidelines to see if your area has facilities for biodegradable plastics.
Spread the Word: Share this information with friends and family. Understanding the pros and cons of biodegradable plastics helps everyone make more informed, eco-friendly choices.

Summing Up

Biodegradable plastics are a promising step toward reducing plastic pollution, but they also come with their own environmental costs, especially when they end up in natural environments. Through Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA), scientists help us understand these trade-offs, from reducing microplastic pollution to the hidden impacts of greenhouse gas emissions.

Ultimately, while biodegradable plastics offer benefits, they are only part of the solution. Proper disposal methods, innovative material design, and mindful consumer choices are essential to building a sustainable future for our planet.

Source: Piao, Z., Boakye, A. A. A., & Yao, Y. (2024). Environmental impacts of biodegradable microplastics. Nature Chemical Engineering, 1, 661–669. https://www.nature.com/articles/s44286-024-00127-0?error=cookies_not_supported&code=8b06b2c3-71e3-42e5-8edc-f9124ebb3fec

Understanding the Global Plastic Pollution Crisis

September 8, 2024 / activist360

Overview of Plastic Pollution and the Role of the Global Plastics Treaty

Plastic pollution is one of the biggest challenges our world faces today. It affects our oceans, rivers, land, and even the air we breathe. Every year, millions of tons of plastic waste end up in the environment, creating serious problems for both people and nature. Let’s dive into the key facts about plastic pollution and the steps being taken to address it through the Global Plastics Treaty.

What is Plastic Pollution?

Plastic pollution happens when plastic waste escapes from managed systems like landfills and enters the environment. When this waste is no longer controlled, it becomes a major threat to ecosystems. Plastic pollution can be broken down into two types:

Macroplastics: These are larger pieces of plastic (greater than 5mm) like bottles, bags, and other visible plastic items.
Microplastics: Tiny plastic particles (smaller than 5mm) that often come from the breakdown of larger plastics.

How Much Plastic Waste is There?

In 2020, around 52.1 million metric tons of macroplastic waste entered the unmanaged environment. This is about 21% of all the plastic waste produced by cities and towns, also known as municipal plastic waste. Municipal plastic waste comes from homes, businesses, schools, and public spaces, according to a global emissions inventory study published in Nature (s41586-024-07758-6).

What is the Unmanaged Environment?

The “unmanaged environment” is any place where plastic waste is no longer being controlled. This includes uncollected waste, litter, and open dumping sites. Once plastic enters this environment, it can move freely and cause harm to wildlife, ecosystems, and even human health.

Why Does Open Burning Happen?

In many parts of the world, especially in developing countries, formal waste collection services are either unavailable or not sufficient. As a result, people resort to open burning of plastic waste as a way to get rid of it. Open burning is harmful because it releases dangerous chemicals into the air and contributes significantly to pollution.

Global North vs. Global South: Who’s Responsible?

When we talk about plastic pollution, the world is often divided into the Global North and the Global South:

The Global North includes wealthier, high-income countries like the United States, Western Europe, and Japan. These countries have better waste management systems and tend to have less uncollected waste.
The Global South includes developing countries in regions like Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. These countries struggle with waste collection, and uncollected plastic waste is a major source of pollution.

Plastic Pollution Hotspots

Certain regions are considered plastic pollution hotspots due to their high levels of unmanaged plastic waste:

Southern Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia have the highest levels of plastic pollution.
India is the largest global emitter, contributing nearly one-fifth of all plastic waste emissions, followed by countries like Nigeria and Indonesia.
In contrast, the Global North has lower levels of pollution because of better waste management practices, though littering is still a problem.

What is the Global Plastics Treaty?

The Global Plastics Treaty is a global agreement being negotiated under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to tackle plastic pollution. The treaty aims to reduce plastic waste, improve recycling, and promote better waste management worldwide. This treaty brings together representatives from governments, industries, scientists, and environmental groups to find solutions.

Negotiations began in 2023. The next Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) meeting for the Global Plastics Treaty is scheduled for November 25–December 1, 2024 in Busan, South Korea. This meeting is called INC-5 and is expected to finalize the text of the treaty.

Why Does This Matter?

Plastic pollution has lasting effects on the environment and human health. Once plastic waste enters the environment, it can break down into microplastics, which are even harder to clean up. Without immediate action, plastic waste will continue to harm ecosystems, wildlife, and people.

Call to Action

Plastic pollution is a global issue that needs urgent attention. While some countries have made progress in managing their plastic waste, others face major challenges. The Global Plastics Treaty offers hope for coordinated global action to reduce plastic pollution and protect our planet for future generations. Tackling uncollected waste and improving waste management systems, especially in developing countries, will be key steps toward solving this crisis.

By understanding the sources and impacts of plastic pollution, we can all play a part in making our world a cleaner, healthier place.