Twenty-four brain samples collected in early 2024 measured on average about 0.5% plastic by weight
A growing body of scientific evidence shows that microplastics are accumulating in critical human organs, including the brain, leading researchers to call for more urgent actions to rein in plastic pollution.
Studies have detected tiny shards and specks of plastics in human lungs, placentas, reproductive organs, livers, kidneys, knee and elbow joints, blood vessels and bone marrow.
Given the research findings, “it is now imperative to declare a global emergency” to deal with plastic pollution, said Sedat Gündoğdu, who studies microplastics at Cukurova University in Turkey.
Textiles are a big contributor, because the plastic fibers are already really small and relatively weak to begin with. You can talk about how many pieces a disposable bag might shed, but it’s nothing compared to just putting a polyester T-shirt in the washing machine.
Especially microfiber. It was shown to shed the most fibers of all the plastic-based textiles.
It all rouses this uncanny experience in me that is adjacent to gross, but not the same. “Gross,” to me, connects to disgust, one of our primal affects; and these affects were develop for an organic world. But this intrusion of synthetic materials everywhere around us (and in us) is disturbing in another sort of way.