1. "Bioaccumulation of Microplastics in Decedent Human Brains" (Nature Medicine, 2024)
This study confirms the presence of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in human brain tissue, particularly the frontal cortex. Researchers used pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) and electron microscopy to analyze postmortem samples, finding polyethylene (PE) as the dominant plastic type. Brain tissue exhibited significantly higher plastic concentrations than the liver or kidney, with even greater MNP accumulation in individuals diagnosed with dementia. The findings raise concerns about potential neuroinflammation and long-term neurological effects, though causality remains unproven.
2. "Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events" (New England Journal of Medicine, 2024)
This study investigates the presence of microplastics in atherosclerotic plaques and their potential role in cardiovascular disease. Analyzing carotid artery plaques from patients undergoing endarterectomy, researchers found polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in 58.4% of plaques. Patients with MNP-containing plaques had a 4.53 times higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or death over a three-year follow-up. The study also linked MNP presence to elevated inflammatory markers (IL-18, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6), suggesting that microplastics might exacerbate cardiovascular disease progression.
