ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Researchers from the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center found ‘alarmingly high levels’ of microplastics in human brains. The amount appears to be a higher concentration of plastic than found in other organs, and scientists say the accumulation is growing over time.
How did plastic get there in the first place? And what, if anything, should people do about this issue?
This week on the New Mexico News Insiders Podcast, Dr. Marcus Garcia joins Chris and Gabby to explain the study’s methods, what researchers learned, and the questions they’re still working to answer. He also shares what scientists believe to be the catalyst for plastic entering our food chain.
“You’re not gonna get as much of your microplastics exposure from that cup or that piece of plastic that’s covering your food products when you first purchase them,” said Dr. Garcia. “It’s what happens to that after it ends up in a landfill, so after we throw those away, then they’re continuing to degrade in these types of environments for the next 20-30 years.”
Dr. Garcia explained the lengthy breakdown of plastic into the ground, and eventually into the water stream, starts with how plastic is disposed of. “The mechanical degradation, that’s what causes these plastics to break down into these much finer micro or nano plastics. Then those end up leaching out into our ground waters, into our soils.”
Those topics and more are discussed in the full episode above.
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If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for who should be interviewed on the podcast, let us know! Email your hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com.