Gizmodo writes that the study, published in the International Journal of Molecular Science, concluded that mammals exposed to microplastics can behave more chaotically when compared to those that are not exposed to the harmful tiny artificial pieces.
Using mice as a study subject, researchers at the University of Rhode Island discovered that microplastics can attach to organs that aren't even linked to the digestive system.
Jaime Ross, a professor of neuroscience at the University of Rhode Island who participated in the study, stated that "we expected to see the microplastics in the feces of the animal, that wasn’t altogether surprising. Then we found them deep inside liver cells, spleen, [and] kidneys. Not just the center of the digestive tract, but actually in the tissue of the digestive tract."
Due to the fact that they managed to infiltrate in the bloodstream, it was not at all surprising that microplastics were found in the brain and spleen of the mice, among other organs.
The groups of mice were exposed to different amounts of microplastics over three weeks, some not ingesting any at all. Researchers then placed them in a low-lit room for 90 minutes for them to explore and during that time, they monitored their activity.
"They don’t [usually] hang out waiting to be scooped up by a predator…they feel more protective along the sides. We look at that type of behavior to understand: Are they going around the outside of this chamber? Are they going into the center?", professor Ross added.
Mice that were consumed higher levels of microplastics had a more erratic behavior and tended to "expose" themselves more to potential dangers that the animal would normally do. Also, the older the mice, the more prominent these effects were.
Researchers were particularly worried since the animals were exposed to microplastics for just these three weeks, compared to us, humans, who are constantly eating and drinking from plastic packaging.
Scientists also discovered that microplastic-exposed mice experienced brain inflammation and saw a decrease in the protein that supports cell process in the brain. This means that constant exposure to microplastics could accelerate or favor the chance of developing neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's.
Jaime Ross concluded that "we need to rethink what kind of plastics we use, especially the single-use plastics that are not necessary for our environment, and for our health."
Any thoughts?