Small plastic pieces found in the ocean are associated with high risk of disability in those who live in coastal areas with high microplastic pollution.

The study was presented at the 77th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, and looked at the disability affecting a person’s ability to take memory, thinking, movement and care of himself.

Although the study does not prove that microplastics cause disability, it highlights a possible link.

Marine microplastics are small plastic pieces, less than 5 millimeters in size, found in oceans and seas. They originate from humiliated plastic waste, such as cosmetic products such as food wrappers, fishing nets and face scrubs.

Dr., a researcher at Lhe Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts. Sarju Ganatra said, “Environment plays an important role in our health, and pollution may contribute to cognitive decline and other neurological disability.”

“Our study found that in coastal communities with high microplastic pollution, there was an increase in the rate of disabled people affecting thinking, memory, mobility and self-care,” Dr. Gunatra said.

Researchers analyzed 218 coastal counties in 22 states in the US, classified them into four groups based on maritime microplastic levels in the nearby ocean surface:

• Less: 0 to 0.005 microplastic pieces per cubic meter (piece/m3)
• medium: 0.005 to 1 piece/m3
• High: 1 to 10 pieces/m3
• Very high: 10 or more pieces/m3

On average, very high -level areas had over 1,000 pieces/m3, while in low category they had less than 10.

The study found that in coastal counties with the highest microplastic levels:

• 9% high rate of memory and thinking disabilities (15.2% in low-exposure areas vs. 13.9%)
• 6% high rate of mobility disabled (14.1% vs 12.3%)
• 16% high rate of self-care disabled (4.2% vs 3.6%)
• 8% high rate of independent living disability (8.5% vs 7.7%)

After adjusting to factors such as heart disease, stroke, air pollution and socio -economic status, the tight was significant between microplastic exposure and disability.

“These conclusions provide information about how marine microplastics can affect brain health. This connection requires more studies to fully understand and its public health implications,” Dr. Gunatra said.

Microplastic levels in coastal areas differ due to sea currents, population density, waste management and industrial activities. However, the causes behind these variations and their impact on health require further investigation.

A limit of study is that it only provides data of a limited time, it does not track changes in microplastic levels or disability rates in an extended period.