It’s (Probably Not) Rocket Science (IPNRS) is back for Season 2, discussing a topic of huge concern—microplastics.

Titled “Everything You Should Know About Microplastics,” this podcast episode highlights new research conducted at The University of New Mexico that has discovered high levels of microplastics in the human body, from the brain to the placenta. Dr. Matthew Campen, a Distinguished Regents Professor in the UNM Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the UNM Health Sciences Center, leads this research.

“We've spent 50 or more years trying to put plastics out of our minds,” said Campen. “Let's stop pretending that these aren't going to come back and haunt us. Let's actually take care of it.”

Earlier this year, Campen published research about high levels of microplastics being found in placentas. This research helped advance a new technology called pyrolysis gas spectrometry, which examines the amount of plastic in human tissue. This study was done with the help of Baylor College of Medicine, which houses a database of 5,000 mothers. Campen conducted 62 human studies to determine whether mothers’ habits are responsible. Though hard to pinpoint, Campen states that race, ethnicity, and age of the mother could play a role.

Campen’s placenta study led to another research study with Jamie Hu, Xiao Zhang, and John Yu in the UNM College of Nursing. They found “alarming levels” of microplastics in dogs and human testicles. These tests were done with freshly harvested testicles from neutered dogs. The chemical analysis was given to Campen to measure the plastics. The results showed that humans have three times the concentration of plastics than dogs in their testicles. Though it’s not proven, this could play a role in the low levels of sperm counts around the globe.

“Over the past 50 years, sperm counts have gone down globally,” said Campen. “Nobody knows what's going on, but certainly modern chemicals, modern contaminants like plastics could potentially have a role in that.”

Additionally, Campen states that high levels of microplastics have been found in the brain. He’s trying to look at how much plastic is in the brain and how these high levels of plastic can get into the brain, which is highly protected. In an interview with CBS, Campen stated that the average amount of plastic in the brain is seven grams, equivalent to a plastic spoon and a half, as one spoon contains five grams. With further analysis needing to be done, Campen is working with Oklahoma State to analyze these samples independently.

So, how are these plastics getting ingested, and what kinds of plastics are being found? Campen says that the plastics most commonly found are polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, and nylon. These are in the products we use every day. Campen uses two examples of them being used: water bottles and IV drip bags.

Since they are products we use in our everyday lives, when they are thrown out, they are weathered and degraded and end up in the water. That water is the same water that feeds crops and livestock that we then put into our bodies. Though water is part of the problem, it’s not the main problem.

It’s undetermined, but the foods we eat and the amount of fats in our diet could contribute to how we ingest these plastics. That’s because plastics like fats. However, just reducing the amount of plastic in our daily lives is not enough to lower the levels of microplastics. That is because the plastics found in the studies are not fresh but old.

“We suspect that most of what we get into our body is like 30, 40, 50 years old,” said Campen.

He explains this as a “backlog of plastics” in the environment. “It's part of this natural breakdown cycle and part of the global contamination issue,” said Campen. “I think we need to look at the waste we've created more than the new products.”

On average, the number of plastics produced has doubled every 10 to 15 years since the 1950s. When asked what human exposure could be in 30 years with these plastics being old, Campen states that it will double in 10-15 years and double again in 20-25 years.

Though these are shocking results, Campen does not want people to panic, as life expectancy is high.

“We live into our 80s, 90s, and 100s. Humanity has never known a period of greater longevity across the planet,” said Campen.

However, he wants people to rethink how they use plastics in their lives, such as using a wood cutting board instead of a plastic one.

“As much as we're seeing these trends, right now, we have to accept the fact that there's no easy way to extract plastics from our lives,” said Campen.

Listen to the episode today to learn “Everything You Should Know About Microplastics.”

It’s (Probably) Not Rocket Science is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts.

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