A recent study found evidence of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNP) accumulating in our bodies. What was surprising about this study is that it has previously been thought that these pollutants were most likely to accumulate in our livers and kidneys but this study shows that this is not the case.
‘MNP concentrations in normal decedent brain samples were 7–30 times greater than the concentrations seen in livers or kidneys, and brain samples from dementia cases exhibited even greater MNP presence,’ according to the study’s authors.
While age, sex, race/ethnicity or cause of death did not appear to have a significant impact on the level of concentrations of MNPs found in bodies those that had deceased more recently were found to have significantly higher levels (compared with specimens from 2016).
We still don’t know exactly what these particles are doing to out bodies but getting them dodged in our brains sounds like its probably not good.
A typical bottle of water (according to a study from the University of California) contains between 110,000 to 370,000 plastic particles, with approximately 90% categorised as nanoplastics and the remaining 10% as microplastics.
PET degrades over time, releasing microplastics and nanoplastics, while opening and closing the cap sheds tiny plastic particles. Trying to reduce your plastic impact by reusing these bottles is a bad idea as the PET is more likely to shed MNPs over time. So ditch the bottled water if you can or invest in a metal reusable bottle.
What is that takeaway coffee really costing you?