Scientists Discover Alarming Findings in Microplastic-Contaminated Water Experiment
Scientists investigating the potential health impacts of microplastics have uncovered some shocking initial findings in experiments conducted on mice.
Both old and young mice were tested by consuming microscopic plastic fragments suspended in water for three weeks. Researchers at the University of Rhode Island found that traces of the pollutant had accumulated in every organ of the small mammals, including the brain.
The presence of microplastics was also accompanied by behavioural changes resembling dementia in humans, along with altered immune markers in the liver and brain.
“For us, this was very striking. This was not high-dose microplastics, but only over a short time period, we saw the changes,” explained neuroscientist Jaime Ross.
“Nobody really understands the life cycle of these microplastics within the body, so one of the things we wanted to answer is the question of what happens as you age. Are you more susceptible to systemic inflammation from these microplastics as you age? Do your cells eliminate them easily? Do your cells respond differently to these toxins?”
The findings may not be directly applicable to humans, but research involving animal models like this represents an important initial step in clinical research.
Recently, scientists discovered microplastics hidden in the human gut, circulating in the bloodstream, accumulating in the lungs, and seeping into the placenta.
In 2021, toxicology experts warned that future research needs to urgently reveal the influence of this pollutant on human health, particularly as exposure is now nearly impossible to avoid.
Some mice were also given normal drinking water as a control group.
During the three-week trial, mouse behaviour was assessed regularly during open-field tests that encouraged exploratory behaviour. They also underwent light-dark preference tests, which are based on rodents’ natural aversion to brightly lit areas.
Compared with the controlled group, mice that drank microplastic-contaminated water for three weeks showed significant behavioural changes, particularly evident in older mice.
At the end of three weeks, red-fluorescent microplastic particles were found in every type of tissue examined by the team, including the brain, liver, kidneys, digestive tract, heart, spleen, and lungs. Plastic was also detected in mouse faeces and urine.
The fact that pollutants were detected outside the digestive system indicates that they underwent systemic circulation.
Their presence in the brain is particularly concerning, demonstrating that these potentially toxic pollutants can penetrate the immune barrier separating the central nervous system from the body’s other bloodstream, potentially causing neurocognitive problems.