The Emerging Concern of Plastics

Written By Sarah Gray

Have you ever considered how many items around you are plastic? Plastic is highly prevalent in our daily lives, found in items like clothing, cutting boards, water bottles, plates, cutlery, dishes, cosmetics, phones, blankets, and more.

Why is this a concern? Micoplastics—tiny plastic particles—along with nanoplastics- even smaller (<100 nm) plastic particles- have raised growing concerns about potential toxicity and other negative effects involving the brain and gut.

Memory & Cognition

Microplastics can be ingested or inhaled through food, water, and air, eventually entering the bloodstream and potentially crossing biological barriers, including the blood-brain barrier. Once they penetrate this barrier, they can accumulate in brain tissue, which may trigger immune responses that lead to neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment. This raises concerns about conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease (4), as well as overall neuronal communication.

Additionally, microplastics may contribute to oxidative stress and cell damage by generating reactive oxygen species. Such cell damage is worrisome because it can reduce synaptic plasticity, ultimately affecting learning and memory.

Animal studies conducted both in vivo and in vitro have evaluated the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on mice, focusing on the extent of cognitive dysfunction. These studies highlight neuroinflammatory responses that may contribute to cognitive deficits and reduced neuronal activity (2). Another study assessed the impact of microplastics on honeybees, revealing impairments in learning and memory (3). These findings raise concerns about cognitive impairment and the potential for neurodegenerative diseases

The Gut

The realization of the importance of your gut microbiome is becoming more realized, and for good measure. The health status of your microbiota is important for many key health factors, including brain activity and cognitive functions (1). Plastic is known to affect the gut-brain axis, also therefore, also pays a role in neurotransmitters, neurodegeneration, gut dysbiosis, microbial dysbiosis, gut inflammation, dysfunction, disruption, immune activation, and neurological effects (4).

Conclusion

Research indicates that plastics can impact our mental and gut health, particularly affecting memory and cognitive function. While more human studies are needed to confirm the extent of damage caused by micro and nanoplastics, current findings suggest that ingesting plastic has a negative effect on our health. Mindful efforts to reduce plastic intake, such as ceasing the use of using plastic cutting boards, cookware tools and utensils, helps to mitigate ingestion.

More information:

References

  1. Chen, Y., Xu, J., & Chen, Y. (2021). Regulation of Neurotransmitters by the Gut Microbiota and Effects on Cognition in Neurological Disorders. Nutrients, 13(6), 2099. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13062099

  2. Paing, Y. M. M., Eom, Y., Song, G. B., Kim, B., Choi, M. G., Hong, S., & Lee, S. H. (2024). Neurotoxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on memory and microglial activation: Insights from in vivo and in vitro studies. The Science of the total environment, 924, 171681. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171681

  3. Pasquini, E., Ferrante, F., Passaponti, L., Pavone, F. S., Costantini, I., & Baracchi, D. (2024). Microplastics reach the brain and interfere with honey bee cognition. The Science of the total environment, 912, 169362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169362

  4. Sofield, C. E., Anderton, R. S., & Gorecki, A. M. (2024). Mind over Microplastics: Exploring Microplastic-Induced Gut Disruption and Gut-Brain-Axis Consequences. Current issues in molecular biology, 46(5), 4186–4202. https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46050256

Sarah Gray