Research indicates that microplastics in water may contribute to higher rates of physical and mental disabilities among populations in heavily contaminated areas. In a study of over 200 locations in America, experts noted a 16% increase in the likelihood of disabilities affecting self-care, alongside a 9% increase in mental conditions related to memory and cognition. Factors like heart disease and stroke were accounted for, suggesting a potential link between environmental pollution and chronic health issues, necessitating further investigation into the implications of microplastic exposure on human health.
Microscopic pieces of plastic in water have been linked to increased risk of physical and mental disabilities in worrying new research.
Dr Sarju Ganatra, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts, and an author of the study, said the findings provided important insight into how marine microplastics could be harming people's brains.
While the experts didn't name the conditions, people living in these areas had a 16 per cent higher risk of having a disability that prevented them looking after themselves.
Experts found people living in microplastic dense areas had an eight per cent higher chance of having a disability that prevented them from living independently.
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