By Dwaipayan Roy | Oct 12, 2025 | 06:22 pm
**What’s the story?**
Microplastics—tiny plastic particles less than 5mm long—have been detected in various parts of the human body, including blood, placentas, and lungs. A recent study even suggests that the human brain alone could harbor up to 5 grams of these particles. The presence of microplastics in such vital organs raises growing concerns about their potential impact on human health and well-being.
### Gut Impact
#### Potential Links to Serious Health Conditions
Recent research indicates that microplastics could be affecting our gut microbiome. Dr. Christian Pacher-Deutsch from the University of Graz in Austria found that exposing gut bacteria from five healthy volunteers to five common microplastics altered their populations and the chemicals they produced. Some of these changes resemble those associated with depression and colorectal cancer, highlighting a possible link between microplastics and serious health conditions.
### Accumulation Concerns
#### Widespread Presence in the Human Body
Microplastics originate from various sources, including packaging, clothing, paints, cosmetics, and car tires. Some particles are small enough to cross barriers in our lungs and intestines, entering the bloodstream and internal organs.
Dr. Jaime Ross from the University of Rhode Island points out that while designing definitive experiments is challenging due to constant exposure, research shows microplastics are found in nearly every tissue examined. Moreover, we are accumulating more plastic particles in our bodies now than we did two decades ago.
### Behavioral Impact
#### Altered Behavior in Mammals
Dr. Ross’s research also explores how microplastics might affect the mammalian brain. In a 2023 study, mice exposed to water containing microplastic particles exhibited altered behaviors, such as venturing into open spaces rather than staying near walls—a behavior often linked to aging and neurological diseases. This suggests microplastics may have similar effects on humans.
### Health Risks
#### Microplastics in Brains of Dementia Patients
Microplastics have been detected in the brains of dementia patients and in arterial plaques of those with heart disease. Notably, patients with microplastic-laden plaques were nearly five times more likely to suffer a stroke, heart attack, or die within three years. These findings underscore the serious potential health risks associated with microplastics inside our bodies.
### Personal Experience
#### Testing for Microplastic Exposure
To better understand exposure levels, a blood test was conducted to detect microplastics. The test revealed four microscopic particles, approximately 40 particles per milliliter of blood. Based on their size, it is likely that one particle entered through the gut, while three were inhaled.
Although this result is lower than the average person—who may have over a million microplastic particles circulating in their bloodstream—it still raises significant concern about the level of microplastic pollutants we are exposed to daily.
### Safety Concerns
#### Need for Further Research
Despite mounting evidence linking microplastics to various health issues, there is currently no consensus on what constitutes a “safe” level of these particles in the human body. The field of research is still in its infancy, and consumer tests for microplastic exposure are considered “very premature.”
This uncertainty highlights the urgent need for further scientific investigation to fully understand the potential risks microplastic exposure poses to human health.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/microplastics-found-in-human-organs-how-they-affect-our-health/story