Plastic is already in blood, breast milk, and placentas. Now it may be in our brains | Adrienne Matei

The particles could be linked to cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson'sResearchers at the University of Vienna have discovered particles of plastic in mice's brains just two hours after the mice ingested drinking water containing plastic.Once in the brain, "Plastic particles could increase the risk of inflammation, neurological disorders or even neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's," Lukas Kenner, one of the researchers, said in a statement, although more research is needed to determine the relationship between plastics and these brain disorders. In addition to potentially severe degenerative consequences, the researchers also believe that microplastic contamination in our brains can cause short-term health effects such as cognitive impairment, neurotoxicity and altered neurotransmitter levels, which can contribute to behavioral changes.Adrienne Matei is a freelance journalist Continue reading...