Dementia-link to bottled water as human brains found to contain teaspoon of plastic pieces

Scientists have issued a warning after a study found the human brain contains about a spoon's worth of plastics. The levels of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) were three to five times higher in brains belonging to those with dementia. According to an article published in Brain Medicine the discovery was "alarming" and warned this was "particularly in patients with dementia".

And it said while it was almost impossible to avoid ingesting plastic there were ways to reduce the risk. A number of studies over recent years have highlighted the increasing risk of consuming plastic. This has included microplastics affecting the lungs, fertility and inflammation.



Researchers published a study in Nature Medicine which found levels of microplastics in the brain are at much higher amounts than in other organs, such as the liver and kidneys. They also found that people in their study who were diagnosed with dementia had up to 10 times more microplastics present in their brains than those without the condition. It found that the human brain contains approximately a spoon's worth of microplastics and nanoplastics.

And those researchers warned these microplastics were of a smaller size (<200 nm) and most often polyethylene. Commenting on the study Prof Tamara Galloway, Professor of Ecotoxicology, University of Exeter, said: “Microplastics are a ubiquitous consequence of modern life, present in air, water and food and it should come as no surprise to find that most people have microplastics present in their bodies. What we don’t yet know is what the implications are for human health.

"Two things stand out from this study. The first is that there was no relationship between the age of the subjects and the amount of microplastics present in the brain samples. This is important because it suggests that microplastics do not accumulate continuously in brain tissues as we age.

“The second thing to stand out is the increase in levels of contamination over time, with a 50% increase in levels of microplastics present in the brain samples collected over the last eight years, reflecting the increased production and use of plastics over a similar timeframe. This is significant because it suggests that if we were to reduce environmental contamination with microplastics, the levels of human exposure would also decrease, offering a strong incentive to focus on innovations that reduce exposure." Plastic does not biodegrade but instead breaks down into smaller pieces - microplastics - which are eaten by animals.

This means they find their way to the dinner table. They also find their way into our bodies through bottled water. And research shows even teabags are an offender for containing the product.

Experts writing in Brain Medicine said: "Given the widespread presence of microplastics in the environment, completely eliminating exposure is unrealistic. A more practical approach is to reduce the most significant sources of microplastic intake. So what can we do about it? It's almost impossible to avoid but there are steps that can reduce the risk.

Water A study in the journal Environmental Science and Technology found bottled water was the second greatest source of microplastics - the first was the air we all breathe. In third place was seafood which the authors concluded made up the " large majority of microplastic intake". The researchers in that study believe changing from bottled water to tap water could reduce the intake of microplastics from 90,000 each year to 4,000.

While the higher figure accounts for people who only drink bottled water and the lower for those exclusively tap water it means in reality most people will sit somewhere in between. Tea Bags A separate study published in the same journal looked at teabag use. In the past the bags were made of paper but this has now switched to plastic for many manufacturers.

The scientists steeped one teabag in 95C water and it released 14 billion microplastics into the drink. For big tea drinkers it could be worth finding which firms still use paper for their bags. Yorkshire Tea is one which has acted on the plastic concerns saying: "The bags in all our regular UK Yorkshire Tea boxes are now plant based.

"Most of the bag is made from natural fibres like wood pulp and the seal is made with PLA - an industrially compostable, plant-based plastic which is much better for the environment when it's properly disposed of." Reheating or storing food According to the Brain Medicine team the kitchen is somewhere changes can be made. It looked at levels of BPA - a chemical compound used in the production of plastics, which is released when plastics degrade.

They advised: "Stopping the practice of heating food in plastic could be one of the most effective ways to reduce microplastic consumption." They added: "Food storage may contribute to microplastic exposure. "A randomised crossover trial of canned foods showed a more than 1000% rise in urinary bisphenol A (BPA) levels after five days of daily canned soup intake.

This suggests that limiting canned food consumption and opting for non-plastic or BPA-free packaged alternatives can effectively reduce exposure. BPA spikes' duration and health impact remain unclear, warranting further research." It also said avoiding plastic and opting for glass or stainless steel containers may reduce intake.

It added: "Heating food in plastic containers, especially in the microwave, can release staggering amounts of microplastics and nanoplastics—up to 4.22 million and 2.11 billion particles per square centimetre in just three minutes.

"Even long-term storage at room temperature or in the fridge leads to significant plastic shedding. These plastics show toxic potential, with in vitro studies revealing up to 77% cell death in human kidney cells after prolonged exposure." Processed foods "Highly processed foods, like chicken nuggets, contained 30 times more microplastics per gram than chicken breasts, highlighting the impact of industrial processing, which often uses plastics at some point," says the Brain Medicine report.

Little research has been done on how successful the body is at clearing microplastics, say the Brain Medicine experts. They said: "One study of 20 people measured BPA in blood, sweat, and urine. 16 of the individuals had BPA identified in their sweat, with this being the only identified source of BPA in some individuals.

"This suggests that induced sweating could facilitate the removal of BPA, though further studies are required to investigate its efficacy and long-term implications. While some evidence suggests that sweat may facilitate the excretion of certain plastic-derived compounds like BPA, no direct research currently confirms its role in reducing the microplastic burden in humans. "Further studies are needed to determine whether these strategies are effective in eliminating microplastics from the body.

" The team concluded there was hope that the body could clear the microplastic accumulation as studies showed there was little evidence to show the older a person the more plastic in their body. They said this suggested that despite ongoing environmental exposures, the body has mechanisms to clear these particles over time through sweat, urine, and faeces. They added: "As methods for measuring microplastics in living humans improve, we can test the common-sense hypothesis that reducing intake of microplastics (e.

g., drinking tap water, avoiding plastic tea bags, using metal or glass for cooking and storage, minimizing highly processed foods stored in plastic) and enhancing elimination may reduce accumulation in humans. "In fish models, it takes approximately 70 days to clear 75% of accumulated brain microplastics, suggesting that decreased inputs and increased outputs must both be maintained for long enough durations to see measurable changes.

As the knowledge increases, government-wide initiatives will help us reduce exposure..