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An adult ingests up to 121,000 microplastics every year! A staggering figure, according to researchers, who are now highlighting the scale of this invisible but omnipresent pollution.
Water, air, food: these elements are everywhere in our daily lives. And now science is asking questions about their ability to reach the human brain.
A study published in the magazine Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry analyses the possible links between exposure to these substances and the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The cause: worrying biological mechanisms such as chronic inflammation, oxidative stress and damage to the blood-brain barrier, which is supposed to protect the brain from toxic molecules.
Microplastics are tiny particles of plastic, less than 5 millimetres in size, produced by the breakdown of packaging, bottles and synthetic textiles. They enter the body and accumulate over time. Quantities not to be underestimated?
We take a look at the reasons for this contamination, the health risks involved, and the simple steps you can take to prevent it. reduce the intake of these substances on a daily basis.
In less than ten years, the quantity of microplastics found in the brain increased by around 50 %.
An unprecedented development, highlighted by the results of the several articles, These findings confirm not only the presence of these elements in our brains, but also their increasing accumulation over the years. Never before have such high concentrations been observed in such a sensitive organ.
The analyses carried out on human samples taken during autopsies show that the brain now contains more micro- and nanoplastics (MNP) than the liver or kidneys, which are specialised in eliminating toxic substances. This is worrying news.
Most of them are polyethylene, one of the most widely used plastics, used in particular in packaging and bottles. These pieces, often nanometric in size, are therefore capable of penetrate deep into brain tissue.
This concentration is no accident. NPMs enter the body through ingestion (food and drink) and inhalation (indoor and outdoor air). Once in the body, nanoparticles pass through the blood vessels. Some even cross the blood-brain barrier, the natural shield that is supposed to protect our brains from harmful substances. With daily impregnation, they gradually accumulate in brain structures.
This situation is part of an alarming global context: overproduction of plastic, explosion in disposable use, widespread contamination of water, soil, air and food.
The result is chronic contact, at levels never before seen, with long-term consequences beginning to emerge, particularly in terms of dementia.
MNPs penetrate our bodies by almost every possible route because of our environment. This multiple, daily exposure largely explains their increase, including in the brain.
The first factor in absorption is ingestion. These substances are now found in our food, but above all in the water we drink. Packaged drinks, particularly in plastic bottles, are a major source of pollution. Studies show that these fragments come from both the degradation of the bottles themselves (PET, polypropylene, polyethylene) and the bottling processes, as well as contamination of the raw water.
Then there's food packaging: plastic trays, cling film and food heated in their containers, with an aggravating factor when there's contact with fats or acids.
The figures in this study speak for themselves People who drink mainly bottled water would ingest up to 90,000 additional plastic particles every year, This compares with around 4,000 per year for tap water. In addition, Sarah Sajedi, a doctoral student at Concordia University in Canada and author of this scientific analysis, states: «Drinking bottled water is fine for emergencies, but not for everyday use.». A finding that calls into question the idea that the bottle is a safer option.
Inhalation is the second route of impregnation. MNP are found in indoor air, particularly in the form of fibres from synthetic textiles and household dust, but also in outdoor air. They are found in the urban environment, near roads, around certain industrial zones, and in atmospheric fallout from waste fragmentation.
The result: widespread, continuous contamination that is difficult to avoid, which explains why NPMs are now present in several of our bodies.
Read also : Plastic bottled water: what are the dangers?
We are not all equal when it comes to NPM. Some people have higher levels of exposure and risk than others.
Pregnant women, infants, young children and teenagers are among the most sensitive. Their bodies are still developing, particularly their hormonal and nervous systems. However, microplastics carry chemicals such as phthalates and bisphenols, which are known to be harmful to the environment.endocrine disrupters. Repeated exposure could then lead to impaired hormonal and neurological function.
The environment also plays an important role. People living near busy roads, industrial estates or waste disposal sites may be more affected by this toxicity, because of the higher levels of contamination.
Then there are those who consume a lot of packaged goods. This is the case, for example, of :
The question «tap water or bottled water»This is why it is central.
Contrary to popular belief, drinking bottled mineral water significantly increases the intake of these harmful elements compared with tap water. A paradox, since bottled water is often perceived as more reassuring.
Faced with this growing presence, particularly in our brains, scientists are now looking at possible impact of NPM on dementia.
Present in the blood, organs and brain, MNPs are no longer simply an environmental problem.
Since they were identified in the early 2000s, research has shown that they can interact with numerous systems in the body. But their precise impact and the risk to our metabolism are still poorly understood.
What we do know, however, is that once ingested or inhaled, they can pass into the bloodstream and spread throughout the body. Several articles link their presence to worrying biological mechanisms, such as oxidative stress and inflammation, two processes that weaken cells over the long term.
These potential effects have already been observed on various systems:
As far as the brain is concerned, there is evidence that microparticles can cross the blood-brain barrier and affect the nervous system. Once there, they would promote neuronal inflammation, disrupt the mitochondrial mechanism (the cells« »energy power plants') and interfere with the cells' natural protective and cleansing action.
And that's not all.
These disturbances are now linked to possible impairment of brain function, observed in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. In this study published in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, The researchers highlight several points in common between the intake of MNP and the progression of these pathologies.
Science is still cautious about this finding, but one thing is clear: this situation is more than necessary.
And the more data that accumulates, the more urgent the health issue becomes.
The good news is that even though MNPs are ubiquitous and present in large quantities, you can significantly reduce your exposure by taking a few simple everyday steps and using purification technologies.
Start with air your home regularly and limit sources of dust (synthetic textiles, cluttered surfaces). These steps can already minimise inhalation of these contaminants.
Power supply, Reduce the use of plastic packaging as much as possible. Choose fresh produce and reduce the use of plastic film or trays.
When this is difficult to avoid, for example with a lunch box at work, do not heat food directly in its packaging. Heat encourages the release of particles and chemical substances.
The best thing to do: transfer the contents to a plate before reheating. And above all, don't expose your plastic containers to direct sunlight.
Now let's talk about the water you drink. Bottled water is one of the main causes of microplastic absorption. So switch to tap water. But only if it is properly filtered.
This is precisely where the under-sink filter comes in. Opropre de LAVIE.
Installed directly under the sink, it acts at source, even before the water reaches the tap. Opropre not only effectively retains micro-particles, but also removes other contaminants such as PFAS, pesticides and undesirable residues, without altering the essential minerals.
A greener, more economical and more practical solution that makes a lasting contribution to reducing your exposure to plastic pollution.
To find out more: Food plastics: beware the danger! - Earth squared
Yes. The results of several scientific studies have confirmed the presence of microplastics in the human brain, through analysis of post-mortem tissue samples. In these articles, the researchers showed that these particles can cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in brain matter.
Moreover, the quantities observed appear to be increasing over the years, raising new questions about the harmful effects of long-term chronic exposure, particularly the links with dementia.
Microplastics are fragments of plastic measuring less than 5 millimetres. Nanoplastics, which are even smaller, are invisible to the naked eye and are less than one micrometre in size.
This extremely small size allows them to penetrate blood vessels more easily and potentially reach organs. Nanoparticles are now considered to be of particular concern by the scientific community.
Yes. Many studies show that bottled water contains significantly more plastic microparticles than tap water. It is estimated that a person who drinks mainly bottled water can ingest up to 90,000 plastic particles per year, This compares with around 4,000 per year for tap water. Most of this contamination comes from packaging and storage conditions.
To date, there is no solution for completely eliminating microplastics from the body. The challenge is therefore to limit your daily exposure, to avoid further accumulation.
This includes reducing the amount of plastic packaging used for food and stopping the use of bottled water.
For tap water, the use of appropriate filtration techniques is necessary. Visit LAVIE Opropre under-sink filter effectively retains these contaminants, while removing other pollutants such as PFAS, without altering the essential minerals. It is then treated in the LAVIE filter carafe to bring it to the height of purity. A preventive and sustainable approach to protecting our health.
Article written on 09/01/2026 by Pascal Nuti - CIO Solable - Passionate about energy, I'm constantly on the lookout for new targets for improvement, exploring cross-disciplinary paths using novel methods.
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