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Communities Hold the Key to Tackling Plastic Pollution, Say Researchers
- Researchers detected microplastics in vital human tissues, including the brain and heart, as reported in studies published in May 2025.
- This finding followed research linking microplastic exposure, especially from ultra-processed foods, to increased risks of depression, poor sleep, and dementia.
- Researchers have observed that microplastics may penetrate the blood-brain barrier and have been linked to various neurological and mental health conditions, including anxiety and cognitive decline, although a direct cause-and-effect relationship has yet to be established.
- An average person inhales about 69,000 plastic particles yearly, with airborne microplastics posing health risks that require urgent mitigation and stronger plastic waste regulations.
- Scientists also found that hospital germs like Pseudomonas aeruginosa can degrade plastics, which may complicate infection control and influence future medical material choices.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Fact: You could be inhaling nearly 70,000 plastic particles annually, here's what it means for your health
Airborne microplastics and nanoplastics are increasingly detected in urban environments, with evidence linking inhalation exposure to inflammation, cardiovascular risks, and other health concerns. Researchers highlight urgent needs for improved detection, targeted mitigation strategies, and coordinated global policies to address this emerging threat.
Scientists make worrisome discovery about chemicals found in everyday plastics: 'Causing a wide range of toxic effects'
Good sleep habits are crucial to a healthy lifestyle. A new study suggests that chemicals in plastics may throw off our bodies' sleep cycles. Plastic is now prevalent in our lives and hard to avoid, and poor sleep is linked to health concerns such as heart conditions, diabetes, high blood pressure, and strokes. What's happening? The study looked at chemicals from PVC and polyurethanes, which are found in common items such as medical equipment,…
Plastic in Everyday Objects Can Disrupt Sleep in a Similar Way to Caffeine, Study Shows
Chemicals found in plastics from everyday objects can disrupt the natural 24-hour sleep-wake cycle, as well as the body's circadian rhythm — in a similar way to coffee — which increases the risk of sleep disorders, diabetes, immune problems and cancer, new in vitro research shows.
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