United States: Recent expert reports indicate that microplastics have the potential to impact the cognitive function of persons residing near coastline regions.
More about the news
Research published at the American Academy of Neurology San Diego meeting demonstrated that marine microplastics smaller than 5 millimeters create memory disabilities and thinking disabilities along with mobility issues.
An analysis revealed that residents who reside in coastal districts with elevated ocean concentrations of microplastics demonstrate decreased capabilities in self-care as well as independent living capabilities, according to researchers.
According to Dr. Sarju Ganatra, senior researcher and a cardiologist at Lacey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, Mass., “These findings provide insights into how marine microplastics might affect brain health,” US News reported.
“More research is needed to explore this connection further and examine the overall public health implications of microplastic pollution,” he stated.
How was the study conducted?
Researchers analyzed 218 coastal counties spread across 22 US states to determine microplastic content in ocean waters based on which group each county belonged to.
The ocean water analysis showed that very high microplastic density resulted in more than 1000 fragments per cubic meter, but low-density areas contained only up to 10 fragments per cubic meter.
Scientific research demonstrates that environmental plastic waste breakdown creates microplastics.
Face scrubs serve as a primary source among many other items, including fishing nets, food wrappers, and take-out containers.
What are the experts stating?
According to Ganatra, “The environment can play a crucial role in our health, and factors such as pollution may impact a person’s risk of developing cognitive decline and other neurological disabilities,” US News reported.
Research showed that people who lived in areas with maximum ocean microplastic contamination displayed 9 percent more mental disabilities in performing memory tasks and thinking abilities than those who resided in low-microplastic locations.
People exposed to heavy microplastic pollution suffered from a 6 percent increased probability of mobility disabilities together with a 16 percent more frequent occurrence of self-care disabilities, causing challenges in dressing, bathing, and moving through their houses.
Residents who resided in waters polluted with excessive microplastics demonstrated 8 percent greater disability when conducting independent activities, which include financial and retail transactions along with transportation operations.
“The amount of plastic in different areas can vary due to ocean currents, which can carry and concentrate plastic in certain regions,” Ganatra noted.
“Other factors, like population density, local waste management, and industrial activities, may also play a role,” he added.
Additionally, the expert explained that the reasons are complex “and likely involve multiple environmental- and human-related factors working together, but this relationship needs further investigation to be fully understood.”