Microplastics in Ocean Waters Linked to Increased Disability in Coastal Communities
New Study Finds Higher Rates of Cognitive Decline and Disabilities Affecting Mobility and Independent Living in Areas with High Marine Microplastic Pollution
Boston, MA – A groundbreaking new study reveals a troubling link between plastic pollution in ocean waters and an increased prevalence of disabilities among coastal residents. A preliminary study led by physician-researchers at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center (LHMC) demonstrated higher rates of disabilities affecting memory and thinking, mobility and a person’s ability to take care of oneself in coastal communities with higher levels of microplastics present in the water. The paper appeared in the European Journal of Neurology and was presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 77th Annual Meeting in April.
Marine micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are microscopic pieces of plastic, less than five millimeters in length, found in oceans and seas. They come from broken-down plastic trash, such as fishing gear and soda bottles or products like face scrubs. Marine plastics are recognized as emerging risk factors contributing to cognitive decline; the current study is among the first to document the association between population-level marine microplastic levels (MMLs) and the prevalence of disabilities related to cognition, mobility, self-care, and independent living. However, the investigators say the risk posed by plastic pollution is not limited to coastal residents.
“So many things are packaged in plastic – we are all exposed to it when we drink water or soda from a plastic bottle,” said senior author Sarju Ganatra, MD, Medical Director of Sustainability and Vice Chair, Department of Medicine (Research) at LHMC. “We should all be concerned about what we consume, whether we live near the coast or not, and our study certainly provides an opportunity to look into our use of plastic and take individual action as well as advocate for societal action.”
Ganatra and colleagues looked at 218 coastal counties in the United States across 22 states. Using federal data gathered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA, the researchers sorted the counties into four groups based on marine microplastic concentrations in the nearby ocean surface, from low to very high. On average, counties with very high levels had more than 1,000 microplastic pieces per cubic meter of of ocean water, while those with low levels had fewer than 10. Then, using federal data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), they looked at the amount of disability among residents in these categories: memory and thinking, mobility, self-care and independent living.
After adjusting for factors that could affect the rate of disability such as heart disease, stroke, depression, air pollution and wealth and resource distribution, Ganatra and colleagues found that people living in counties with the highest marine microplastic levels showed a 9 percent higher rate of disability in memory and thinking, a 6 percent higher disability in mobility, a 16 percent higher disability in self-care, and an 8 percent higher disability in independent living when compared to residents of counties with the lowest levels.
While more research is needed to explore the overall public health implications of microplastic pollution, Ganatra suggests it’s time to rethink how those bits of plastic got there in the first place.
“So many things are packed in plastic packaging that weren’t 20 years ago – are we better off?” Ganatra said. “Until now, we have been throwing this waste away and expecting it to disappear to the developing world. It turns out, we are all in this together on this planet.”
Co-Authors included Brinda Desai, Bhargav Makwana, Jayashri Srinivasan, Diana Apetauerova, Sourbha Dani, Siddharth Sehgal, Oleg Yerstein, Sumanth Khadke Yixin Kong, Susan Moffatt-Bruce, of LHMC; Rishi Wadhera of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Ashish Kumar of Cleveland Clinic, Akron General; Khurram Nasir of Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center; Ana Navas-Acien of Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health; Gary Adamkiewicz of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Sanjay Rajagopalan of Harrington Heart and Vascular Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center; and Sadeer Al-Kindi of Center for Health and Nature and Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist Hospital.
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
About Lahey Hospital & Medical Center
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center (LHMC) is a world-renowned tertiary academic medical center known for its innovative technology, pioneering medical treatments and leading-edge research. As a physician-led hospital, LHMC offers a legacy of care and education committed to putting the patient at the center through a multidisciplinary, collaborative and team-based approach. LHMC’s research efforts and clinical trials cross numerous medical disciplines, providing patients with access to the latest options in treatment and care.
LHMC is a part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, a health care system that brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, more than 4,700 physicians and 39,000 employees in a shared mission to expand access to great care and advance the science and practice of medicine through groundbreaking research and education.
