Research has already revealed that microplastics are harmful for the body, however, a new study performed in New Mexico reveals that it is far worse than previously thought. 

Researchers at the University of New Mexico Health and Sciences found in 2024 that the brain contains a higher concentration of microplastics than any other organ in the human body, and that the accumulation of microplastics in it increases over time.

Research has connected some ingested microplastics to black plastic utensils that are made using recycled electronics. The usage of these may increase the likelihood of cancer due to the toxic flame retardant chemical found in recycled electronics. 

But, when did microplastics start to become a more prominent threat in our lives?

We got rid of the formerly commonly used asbestos in the ‘90s because it caused various types of cancer, yet, plastics still remain prominent even though they have proven time and time again that they are harmful at a far larger scale.

When plastics were first introduced in the 19th century, they weren’t widely used. They were seldom used to replace products that used materials such as ivory and tortoiseshell.

Plastics continued to see use throughout the 1900s to 1940s, but still at a limited amount. However, notable plastics such as polyethylene, nylon, and teflon were created and used during this time in medical, fashion, and home products. 

After World War 2, plastics started to replace common materials such as paper, metal, and glass, as it was far cheaper, far easier to produce, and just as durable.

Then, in 1973, PET polymer was patented. This plastic was the material used in disposable bottles as it was light, cheap, and it was specifically designed to contain the pressure of soft drinks. 

The widespread use of these plastics lead to microplastics inside the human body, as small pieces of plastics were consumed that were in food products, such as drinks, plates, and utensils.

Around this period, plastics were reported to be found littered throughout beaches and in the stomachs of animals. 

Although concerns were raised early, microplastics wouldn’t be discovered until 2004 when Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS and his team coined the term ‘microplastics’ and discovered them in the ocean- from the deepest parts to the surface-and in the bodies of a multitude of organisms.

Since then microplastics have been found in the air, the top of Mount Everest, and even some of the most remote environments in the world. Additionally, microplastics have been recently discovered in human blood and organs in 2022 by researchers at the University of New Mexico and the Netherlands. When analyzed, half of the samples contained PET.

As the world becomes a more plastic fueled society, it’s not much of a surprise that the levels of microplastics have been increasing over the years; however, research from 2024 suggests that the samples from 2016 and 2024 “indicate significant differences” in the levels of plastic in organs.

Is there anything we can do about this?

There have been efforts to reduce plastics, but they pale in comparison to plastic production and use every year. These plastics do not decompose in the environment, which means that they will be here for thousands of years.

Unlike asbestos, banning plastics won’t quickly get rid of all of it, let alone stop people from using it. In the age of consumerism, there isn’t much that an individual can do. It is inevitable that consumers will continue to ingest microplastics, yet humanity can slow it down.

As a collective society, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends using reusable items any way you can. This includes shopping bags, dishes, and containers. Another way plastic waste could be reduced is by recycling, encouraging others to do so as well, or setting up local recycle drives. Anything that reduces individual plastic use can help progress the world to be rid of microplastics.