Are microplastics actually there in our bodies? Study raises doubts
Recent studies claiming widespread microplastics in human organs, like brains and arteries, face significant skepticism due to contamination risks and false positives from flawed detection methods. While microplastics have been detected in some tissues such as blood and placenta, critics highlight poor contamination controls, lack of blank sample testing, and confusion with biological materials like fats that mimic plastic signals.
Methodological issues plague high-profile papers, including a 2025 brain tissue study criticized as “a joke” by chemist Dr. Dusan Materic for ignoring fat-based false positives and rising obesity trends that could explain apparent increases. At least seven studies, plus an analysis of 18 others, have been challenged in journals for similar shortcomings in analytical techniques like pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Earlier research confirmed micro- and nanoplastics (primarily polyethylene) in decedent organs like kidney, liver, and brain, with higher brain concentrations noted over time from 2016 to 2024 samples. However, no causal health links exist, and detection limits persist across methods.
These controversies risk misleading pollution policies or aiding industry denialism, underscoring the urgent need for robust, reproducible human tissue analysis. Animal studies suggest potential inflammation and immune risks, but human proof remains elusive.
