News from CRIS: In the News - Nanoplastics
February 17, 2025
Top Takeaways:
- Nanoplastics found in human organs highlight the need for further study to determine if there are adverse health impacts.
- Current research shows rising plastic concentrations in human tissues over time, pointing to the need for further research.
- Scientists are learning how microplastics and nanoplastics impact our bodies and our health.
What do the headlines say about microplastics and nanoplastics and our health?
- You might have a spoon’s worth of microplastics – in your brain.
- Researchers found a spoon’s worth of nanoplastics in human brains — the latest evidence that plastic is accumulating in our bodies
- Your Brain Could Be Holding A Spoon’s Worth Of Microplastics
- The Human Brain May Contain as Much as a Spoon’s Worth of Microplastics, New Research Suggests
- Human brain samples contain an entire spoon’s worth of nanoplastics, study says
These are just a few of the many headlines circulating in our newsfeeds this week. While much remains unknown about the health effects of microplastics and nanoplastics, let’s explore what the science tells us so far.
What is the difference between microplastic and nanoplastic?
Microplastics are plastic particles ranging from 500 micrometers (µm) down to 1 micrometer in length, while nanoplastics are even smaller, with sizes ranging from 1 nanometer (nm) to less than 1 micrometer in length.
For example, microplastics are approximately the size of a grain of salt, while nanoplastics are akin to a single virus particle size.
This size distinction is important because it can determine where we can find the plastic particulates in the body.
How are microplastics and nanoplastics formed?
Microplastics and nanoplastics form when larger plastic items break down over time through
- everyday wear, like using plastic bags and washing synthetic clothes.
- sunlight exposure causing plastics to deteriorate in oceans and landfills.
- heat from industrial processes or microwaving plastic containers.
- chemical reactions like found with pollutants, oxygen, or saltwater.
- microorganisms like bacteria can degrade plastics, though slowly and incompletely.
How do microplastics and nanoplastics get into our bodies?
We are exposed to micro- and nanoplastics through many different exposure routes.
- Inhalation: Breathing in airborne plastics (e.g., plastic particulates from clothing)
- Ingestion: Consuming substances through eating or drinking (e.g., residue from packaging)
- Dermal (Skin) Contact: Absorbing substances through the skin (e.g., cosmetic product packaging)
What does the paper say about microplastics and nanoplastics?
The paper confirms that microplastics and nanoplastics are present in human organs.
However, the researchers focus on nano-size plastic fragments found in the body.
The researchers located nanoplastic-sized particulates in the livers and kidneys of research subjects. They noticed the nanoplastics were grouped together to form a micro-sized plastic aggregate.
Researchers found nano-sized plastic material in the brain. This finding demonstrates that the small size of nanoplastics means they can cross the blood-brain barrier.
Significantly, the study showed that concentrations of microplastic and nanoplastic have increased over time, with tissue samples from 2024 showing higher concentrations of these particulates than samples from 2016.
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To continue reading the entire blog post, visit: https://cris.msu.edu/news/in-the-news/in-the-news-nanoplastics/