The effect of nanoplastics on brain cells may depend on their size
New research from the University of Eastern Finland shows that smaller plastic particles may have a bigger impact on neurons, which are the brain’s key cells for processing information. In the study, brain cells were exposed to very small plastic particles called polystyrene nanoplastics at low levels to check for small changes.
Plastic production is still increasing despite growing concerns across the world.
While there is growing interest in understanding how exposure to plastics could affect human health, our knowledge is not yet complete. Recently, it was discovered that plastics can also build up in the human brain.
Plastic particles smaller than 5000 nm are called microplastics, and those under 1000 nm are called nanoplastics.
Because of their tiny size, nanoplastics can interact with many different types of cells, as well as other substances like bacteria. They also have a greater ability to stick to other materials and pass through body barriers more easily than microplastics. This suggests that they may be more harmful and worth further study in the field of brain science.
The Cellular Neurobiology research group, led by Professor Katja Kanninen at the A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, looks into how environmental factors influence brain health and cell functions.
In a recent study published in a special edition of NanoImpact, the group used actual brain cells to explore how different sizes of polystyrene nanoplastics affect neurons. Their study is one of the few to focus on very small particles at low levels to see how they might cause small but important changes in brain cells.
The study found that polystyrene nanoplastics can enter and build up inside neurons.
Looking at the shape and genetic activity of the cells, the researchers saw that smaller particles had a stronger effect than larger ones, even though all were within the nanoplastic range.
Doctoral Researcher Veronika Górová, the lead author of the study, says, “It’s important to know that not just the amount and type of plastic, but also the size of the particles, plays a role.
As the nanoparticles get smaller, we saw more noticeable, but still fairly small, changes.”
She adds, “Looking ahead, it would be useful to study these effects using more realistic models and longer exposure times to better understand what happens in real life.”
The study adds to what we know about how nanoparticles affect the brain and stresses the importance of studying low levels of exposure and tiny particles to assess their possible health risks.
Source: University of Eastern Finland
