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Bioaccumulo di microplastiche e nanoplastiche nel cervello umano
Summary
This study examines the growing body of evidence on microplastic and nanoplastic accumulation in the human brain. Researchers note that a 2025 study in Nature Medicine found brain concentrations approximately 10 times higher than in liver and kidneys, with levels doubling over an eight-year period. The evidence indicates a potential correlation between high plastic concentrations in brain tissue and dementia, though more research is needed to establish causation.
Microplastic and nanoplastic (MNP) pollution is a growing environmental and health concern, with global plastic production exceeding 400 million tons annually. These particles, persistent in the environment due to their slow degradation, are ubiquitous in air, water, soil, and the food chain. Children are particularly vulnerable due to their frequent contact with plastic-containing products, such as baby bottles and toys. Scientific literature has already documented the presence of MNPs in various human biological tissues and fluids, including human milk, placenta, liver, kidneys and testes. Once inside the body, MNPs can cause inflammation, cellular damage, oxidative stress and DNA toxicity, with potential carcinogenic effects, impaired neurodevelopment and endocrine disorders. Recent studies on MNP neurotoxicity indicate that these particles can cross the blood-brain barrier and also accelerate neurodegenerative processes like those seen in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. A groundbreaking study published in Nature Medicine in 2025 revealed the bioaccumulation of MNPs in the human brain, showing concentrations approximately 10 times higher than in the liver and kidneys and doubling within 8 years. A correlation between high MNP concentrations in the brain and dementia was also observed, with three to ten times more plastic in the tissues of affected patients. Therefore, urgent interventions are needed to reduce MNP exposure, especially for the most vulnerable individuals, such as children and pregnant women, by promoting family practices that minimize contact with plastic and implementing national and international policies for more sustainable management.