Microplastics in the Brain: How Microplastics are Infiltrating Our Bodies

Scientists are uncovering alarming evidence that microplastics, tiny plastic particles from our environment, can infiltrate the brain—raising serious concerns about their impact on human health.

Plastic pollution has become a global environmental crisis, reaching every corner of our planet – and even our bodies. As larger plastic debris breaks down into microscopic fragments, humans are exposed to microplastics (particles <5 mm) and nanoplastics (<1 µm in size) through everyday activities. Scientists are now discovering that these tiny particles don’t just pass harmlessly through us; they can infiltrate sensitive organs, including the brain, posing hidden risks to our neurological health. Recent research shows that microplastics can cross protective organ barriers, accumulate in brain tissue, and trigger biological damage – from inflammation and oxidative stress to disrupted neural function. This issue demands urgent attention because of the emerging evidence discussing the threats microplastics pose to the brain.

How do these microplastics enter our bodies and brains?

We ingest them. Consuming contaminated food and water is the largest route for microplastics into the body. We unwittingly swallow microplastics in drinking water (tap and especially bottled water) and in foods that have accumulated plastics (like shellfish or produce). Processed and packaged foods often contain more microplastics, likely from contact with plastic containers.

We inhale them. Airborne microplastics are also a source of exposure. Synthetic fibers from clothes and carpets, urban dust, and vehicle tire wear can introduce microplastics into the air we breathe. Indoor air, in particular, can have high concentrations of microplastic dust. Even miniscule fibers shed from face masks and other synthetic textiles can be inhaled – for instance, a single disposable mask was found to release microplastic particles during simulated breathing.

We absorb them. A smaller portion of exposure comes through skin contact. Our skin may absorb microplastics present in products like cosmetics, exfoliating scrubs, or contaminated water. Although the skin aims to provide a barrier to foreign particles and chemicals, studies have shown some absorption of microplastics. Microplastic fibers can also lodge in the outer skin layers through clothing or airborne dust. Though dermal uptake is less studied, it’s considered a possible entry route especially for nanoplastics that might penetrate pores.

Once microplastics are inside us, where do they go and what do they do?

How Do They Enter the Brain?

Considering the quantity of microplastics our bodies encounter, one of the most pressing questions is whether these particles can infiltrate our central nervous system. The brain is normally shielded by the blood-brain barrier – a specialized network of tightly joined cells lining brain blood vessels that blocks most foreign substances. However, recent evidence shows that microplastics can breach the blood-brain barrier and enter brain tissue. There are a couple of pathways through which microplastics enter brain tissue:

Via the bloodstream. Ingested or inhaled microplastics can enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body, and they may break through the blood-brain barrier. Experiments in mice have demonstrated that nanoplastics appear in brain tissue within hours of exposure – one study found fluorescent nanoplastics in mice brains just two hours after oral administration of nanoplastics.

Via nerve pathways. Microplastics can bypass the bloodstream altogether by hitchhiking along nerve pathways. For example, inhaled microparticles can travel from the nasal cavity directly into the brain along the olfactory nerve – the nerve that gives us our sense of smell.

Once inside the brain, microplastics have been linked to oxidative stress, neuronal damage, and disruptions in neurotransmitter systems—potentially causing cognitive impairment, mood disorders, and neurodevelopmental issues. Emerging research also suggests that long-term exposure to microplastics may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, emphasizing the urgent need for further study and preventative action against microplastic pollution. This is why it is important to catch microplastics at the source.

CLEANR’s Premium Microplastic Filter for washing machines captures 90%+ of microplastics from the largest source of microplastic pollution, preventing them from entering our environment.

What we can do about it:

Learn more

Sources:

Written by Anna Miller

Back to Newsroom

About CLEANR

CLEANR builds best-in-class microplastic filters for washing machines that effortlessly remove the largest source of microplastics into the environment. Its technology, VORTX, represents a breakthrough in filtration, with a patent-pending design that is inspired by nature and proven to outperform conventional filtration technologies by over 300%. The company is building a platform filter technology that enables product manufacturers and business customers to materially reduce their microplastic emissions from impacted in-bound and out-bound fluid streams, including residential and commercial washing machine wastewater, in-home water systems, wastewater treatment, textile manufacturing effluents, industrial wastewater, and other sources. www.cleanr.life

Cox, K. D., Covernton, G. A., Davies, H. L., Dower, J. F., Juanes, F., & Dudas, S. E. (2019). Human consumption of microplastics. Environmental Science & Technology, 53(12), 7068–7074. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b01517
Kopatz, V., Wen, K., Kovács, T., et al. (2023). Micro- and Nanoplastics Breach the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB): Biomolecular Corona’s Role Revealed. Nanomaterials. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370128978
Prata, D. S., & da Costa, J. P. (2025). Disposable face masks: a direct source for inhalation of microplastics. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373551689_Disposable_face_masks_a_direct_source_for_inhalation_of_microplastics