Nanoplastics and ALS

There is global concern about plastic production, which now exceeds one million tons per year. This review addresses how tiny plastic particles, which are found in food, air, and water and can spread over large distances, can be harmful when ingested, inhaled, or come in contact with skin. The review highlights how exposure to these particles can disrupt the gut and brain, posing risks to infants and potentially contributing to neurodegenerative disease later in life. For example, in the brain, these particles can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurotransmitter dysfunction, potentially leading to diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

“There is significant exposure to these particles throughout an individual’s lifetime, from early childhood,” explains Eva Feldman, M.D., Ph.D. “There are potential mechanistic links between plastic particles and ALS, so it should be a focus of ALS exposure research.”

Paper mentioned: Eisen A, Pioro EP, Goutman SA, Kiernan MC. Nanoplastics and Neurodegeneration in ALS. Brain Sci. 2024 May 7;14(5):471. doi: 10.3390/brainsci14050471. PMID: 38790450; PMCID: PMC11119293