
The Brian Lehrer Show Microplastics and Health
4 snips
Mar 6, 2025 Carolyn Kormann, a dedicated writer for The New Yorker and New York Magazine, dives into the alarming findings of microplastics accumulating in the human brain. She discusses how these tiny particles have been on the rise over decades, highlighting potential cognitive and health risks. Kormann also suggests practical solutions to minimize exposure, like using guppy bags and resisting excess plastic packaging. Her insights urge listeners to become more aware of their environment and take action against plastic pollution.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Microplastics in Brains
- A new study found that human brains may contain up to a spoon's worth of microplastics.
- This amount has increased by 50% in just eight years, mirroring the rise of plastics in the environment.
Microplastic Definition
- Microplastics are smaller than a grain of rice.
- Even smaller nanoplastics, less than one micron, are of increasing concern.
Increasing Nanoplastics
- Brain samples from 2024 contained 50% more nanoplastics than those from 2016.
- Samples from 1997 had even less, showing a clear increase over time.
