大脑中的塑料：科学揭示了什么

Plastics in the Brain: What Science Is Revealing

大脑中的塑料：科学揭示了什么

Microplastics found in the brain raise concerns for mental and neural health.

大脑中发现的微塑料引发了人们对精神和神经健康的担忧。

Posted October 15, 2025 | Reviewed by Monica Vilhauer Ph.D.

发布于 2025 年 10 月 15 日 | 由 Monica Vilhauer 博士审核。

Microplastics and nanoplastics have now been detected in human brain tissue.Early evidence suggests they may contribute to inflammation and neurodegeneration.Chemical additives in plastics may affect hormone balance, mood, and cognition.Reducing exposure and reformulating safer materials can help protect brain and mental health.

目前已在人类脑组织中检测到了微塑料和纳米塑料。早期证据表明它们可能导致炎症和神经退行性变。塑料中的化学添加剂可能会影响荷尔蒙平衡、情绪和认知。减少接触和重新配制更安全的材料有助于保护大脑和心理健康。

Microplastics have become an unavoidable part of our daily life, embedded in packaging and clothing, and found in our oceans, in the air we breathe, and in the water we drink. But in recent years, scientists and clinicians started exploring a new question: Could these invisible fragments also be making their way into our brains, and if so, what might that mean for our mental health?

微塑料已成为我们日常生活中不可避免的一部分，它们存在于包装和衣物中，也存在于海洋、我们呼吸的空气和饮用的水中。但近年来，科学家和临床医生开始探索一个新的问题：这些看不见的碎片是否也会进入我们的大脑？如果是这样，这对我们的心理健康意味着什么？

To explore what we know and what we still don’t, I spoke with Dr. Elizabeth Ryznar, a psychiatrist and a planetary health expert focusing on microplastics’ impact on our mental health. In our conversation, she explains how microplastics enter the body, what scientists are discovering about their effects on brain and mental health, and the steps we can take, both individually and collectively, to protect ourselves.

为了探索我们已知的和尚不清楚的方面，我采访了伊丽莎白·瑞兹纳尔博士，她是一位精神病学家和地球健康专家，专注于研究微塑料对心理健康的影响。在访谈中，她解释了微塑料是如何进入人体的，科学家们正在研究微塑料对大脑和心理健康的影响，以及我们可以采取哪些个人和集体的措施来保护自己。

Burcin Ikiz (BI): What first drew you, as a psychiatrist, to the issue of plastics and brain health?

Burcin Ikiz (BI)：作为一名精神病学家，是什么首先吸引您关注塑料和大脑健康问题？

Elizabeth Ryznar (ER): For a long time, I thought of plastics as an environmental problem, hurting oceans, not humans. During the early pandemic, when my usual routines stalled, I started preparing all of my own meals at home and going on hikes for fun. I noticed how much plastic piled up as trash in my kitchen or as litter on the hiking trails. That made the issue personal, and I spent three years changing my own habits to be low-plastic. I also took a class on plastics, where I learned about medical studies showing health impacts. Almost no one was discussing possible brain effects at the time, and as a psychiatrist, I felt it was an important gap to explore. Since then, the science has accelerated: the first reports of microplastics in human blood appeared in 2022, and findings in the human brain were reported at the end of 2024.

伊丽莎白·瑞兹纳尔（ER）：长期以来，我一直认为塑料是一个环境问题，危害的是海洋，而不是人类。疫情初期，我的日常生活被打乱，我开始在家自己做饭，并为了好玩去远足。我注意到厨房里堆积了多少塑料垃圾，远足小径上也堆满了塑料。这让我对这个问题有了更深刻的认识，于是我花了三年时间改变自己的习惯，减少使用塑料。我还选修了一门关于塑料的课程，在那里我了解了显示塑料对健康影响的医学研究。当时几乎没有人讨论塑料对大脑可能造成的影响，作为一名精神科医生，我觉得这是一个值得探索的重要空白。从那时起，科学研究就加速发展：2022 年出现了首批关于人体血液中存在微塑料的报告，2024 年底又报道了在人脑中发现微塑料的报道。

BI: Let’s define terms. What are microplastics and nanoplastics, and where do they come from?

BI：我们来定义一下这些术语。什么是微塑料和纳米塑料？它们来自哪里？

ER: Plastics don’t dissolve into naturally reusable parts; they fragment into smaller and smaller pieces of plastic. Pieces smaller than 5 millimeters are called microplastics, and fragments less than 1 micrometer are called nanoplastics. When we talk about nanoplastics, we are talking about something that’s the size of a particle of smoke, a virus, or a protein. Micro- and nanoplastics come from daily life: food and drinks stored or heated in plastic, ultraprocessed foods made in factories with plastic equipment, synthetic clothing that sheds microfibers in the wash, and tire wear particles from driving. They can also be added as microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products. Because plastic waste is everywhere — in the air, water, and soil —these particles also enter our food chain (think sea salt, shellfish, fish) and our water supply. In short, they’re a form of pollution we inhale and ingest.

ER：塑料不会溶解成可自然重复利用的部件；它们会碎裂成越来越小的塑料碎片。小于 5 毫米的碎片称为微塑料，小于 1 微米的碎片称为纳米塑料。我们所说的纳米塑料指的是烟雾、病毒或蛋白质颗粒大小的物质。微塑料和纳米塑料来自日常生活：用塑料储存或加热的食物和饮料、工厂使用塑料设备生产的超加工食品、洗涤时会脱落微纤维的合成衣物，以及驾驶过程中产生的轮胎磨损颗粒。它们也可以以微珠的形式添加到化妆品和个人护理产品中。由于塑料垃圾无处不在——在空气、水和土壤中——这些颗粒也会进入我们的食物链（比如海盐、贝类、鱼类）和水源。简而言之，它们是我们吸入和摄入的一种污染物。

BI: How do these particles get into the brain if we have the blood–brain barrier?

BI：如果我们有血脑屏障，这些颗粒是如何进入大脑的？

ER: The blood–brain barrier isn’t a solid wall; it’s a semipermeable membrane. The smallest microplastics and all nanoplastics are small enough to pass through once they are in our bloodstream, and they can get there from our lungs or GI tract. There’s also evidence for a direct route to the brain from the nose: the olfactory nerves carry scents into the brain, and tiny pollution particles, including microplastics, appear able to travel along that same pathway.

ER：血脑屏障并非坚固的墙壁，而是一层半透膜。最小的微塑料和所有纳米塑料都足够小，一旦进入血液就能穿过，它们也可以从肺部或胃肠道进入血液。也有证据表明，气味可以通过鼻子直接进入大脑：嗅觉神经将气味传递到大脑，包括微塑料在内的微小污染颗粒似乎也能沿着同样的路径传播。

BI: What might micro- and nanoplastics do once they’re in brain tissue?

BI：微塑料和纳米塑料一旦进入脑组织会产生什么影响？

ER: These particles can trigger inflammation and oxidative stress. They can also alter gene expression, activate microglial cells, and accelerate alpha-synuclein or amyloid aggregation (which are seen in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease). Some studies also show changes in rodent behavior or cognition. This is all based on studies of brain cells or animal models, so the research is still preliminary, but the mechanisms we’re observing are concerning.

ER：这些颗粒可以引发炎症和氧化应激。它们还能改变基因表达，激活小胶质细胞，并加速α-突触核蛋白或淀粉样蛋白的聚集（这些在帕金森病和阿尔茨海默病中很常见）。一些研究还显示了啮齿动物行为或认知的变化。所有这些都基于对脑细胞或动物模型的研究，因此研究仍处于初步阶段，但我们观察到的机制令人担忧。

BI: It isn’t just the particles that harm us. What about chemicals associated with plastics?

BI：危害我们的不仅仅是颗粒物。塑料中的化学物质又如何呢？

ER: Exactly. Plastic products aren’t just the plastic polymer (i.e., particle). They also contain additives to achieve durability (bisphenols like BPA), flexibility (phthalates), oil/water resistance (PFAS “forever chemicals”), or fire prevention (flame retardants). Many of these are endocrine-disrupting chemicals, meaning they can mimic or interfere with hormones that regulate growth, reproduction, metabolism, and brain development. We have decades of research linking certain additives to outcomes like altered puberty timing, reduced sperm counts, metabolic disease, and, in the case of older flame-retardants (PBDEs), loss of IQ in children. For brain and mental health, emerging studies suggest possible links to behavioral and neurodevelopmental outcomes. The results are mixed, and genetics may modify the risk. This is an active area of research.

ER：没错。塑料制品不仅仅是塑料聚合物（即颗粒）。它们还含有添加剂，以实现耐久性（双酚类化合物，如BPA）、柔韧性（邻苯二甲酸酯）、耐油/防水性（PFAS“永久化学物质”）或防火性（阻燃剂）。其中许多添加剂是内分泌干扰物，这意味着它们可以模仿或干扰调节生长、生殖、新陈代谢和大脑发育的激素。数十年来，我们已将某些添加剂与青春期时间改变、精子数量减少、代谢性疾病以及（就较老的阻燃剂（多溴二苯醚）而言）儿童智商下降等后果联系起来。对于大脑和心理健康，新兴研究表明添加剂可能与行为和神经发育结果相关。研究结果尚不明确，遗传因素可能会改变风险。这是一个活跃的研究领域。

BI: What practical steps can individuals take to reduce exposure?

BI：个人可以采取哪些实际措施来减少接触？

ER: Focus on food, water, air, dust, and textiles:

ER：关注食物、水、空气、灰尘和纺织品：

Avoid heating food in plastic; use glass or ceramic. Be cautious with hot liquids and plastics, including some tea bags.

避免使用塑料容器加热食物，请使用玻璃或陶瓷容器。小心接触热液体和塑料容器，包括一些茶包。

For storing food and drinks, incorporate stainless steel or glass bottles and containers.

为了储存食物和饮料，请使用不锈钢或玻璃瓶和容器。

Reduce indoor dust (mop/vacuum regularly) and consider HEPA filtration.

减少室内灰尘（定期拖地/吸尘）并考虑使用 HEPA 过滤。

For children, opt for non-plastic toys, especially those that are put in their mouths.

对于儿童来说，选择非塑料玩具，尤其是那些可以放进嘴里的玩具。

Opt for clothing made of natural fibers or materials that will last a long time; consider thrifting.

选择由天然纤维或耐用材料制成的衣服；考虑节俭。

However, I also suggest that people consider reducing the amount of micro- and nanoplastics they release into the environment, as these eventually make their way back to you and your family. Reducing plastic use is by far the most important thing people can do. Most plastic items that we use end up in landfills, are burned, or littered. Recycling is helpful, but many plastics cannot be recycled. Think “refuse, reduce, or reuse” first; recycle last.

然而，我也建议人们考虑减少向环境中排放的微塑料和纳米塑料的数量，因为这些最终会回到你和你的家人身边。减少塑料使用是迄今为止人们能做的最重要的事情。我们使用的大多数塑料制品最终都会被填埋、焚烧或乱扔。回收利用固然有益，但许多塑料无法回收利用。首先要考虑“丢弃、减少或再利用”，最后才是回收利用。

BI: What about bigger, systemic solutions?

BI：那么更大、更系统的解决方案呢？

ER: Personal choices matter, but the scale of this problem requires policy and industry action. That means curbing unnecessary single-use plastics and capping overall production growth, while also investing in safer materials and reformulating additives to avoid endocrine disruptors. Setting standards for microfiber filtration in washing machines and for tire-wear particles would make a major difference, as would procurement changes in hospitals, schools, and cities to reduce plastic waste at the source. Clearer labeling and greater transparency are also essential so that consumers and clinicians can make informed choices. Finally, civic engagement truly works; asking local, state, and national representatives what they’re doing about plastics and health helps build the political will needed to act.

ER：个人选择固然重要，但问题的严重性需要政策和行业行动。这意味着要减少不必要的一次性塑料使用，限制整体产量增长，同时还要投资于更安全的材料，并重新配制添加剂，以避免产生内分泌干扰物。制定洗衣机微纤维过滤和轮胎磨损颗粒的标准将发挥重要作用，医院、学校和城市的采购改革也将带来重大改变，从源头上减少塑料垃圾。更清晰的标签和更高的透明度也至关重要，这样消费者和临床医生才能做出明智的选择。最后，公民参与确实有效；询问地方、州和国家代表他们在塑料和健康问题上所做的工作，有助于建立采取行动所需的政治意愿。

BI: Where do you find hope?

BI：您在哪里找到希望？

ER: In human creativity and cooperation. Innovators are developing safer materials, better capture technologies, and circular reuse systems. Healthcare organizations are moving toward sustainable practices. And as more people understand the health dimensions of plastics, momentum grows. We can’t eliminate plastics entirely—they are useful in many settings—but we can eliminate excessive and unnecessary use.

ER：体现在人类的创造力和合作中。创新者正在开发更安全的材料、更高效的回收技术和循环再利用系统。医疗保健机构正在朝着可持续的实践迈进。随着越来越多的人认识到塑料对健康的危害，这一势头也在增强。我们无法完全消除塑料——它们在很多情况下都很有用——但我们可以消除过度和不必要的使用。

BI: Thank you for your time and for sharing your insights, Elizabeth.

BI：伊丽莎白，感谢您抽出时间分享您的见解。

Plastics are both a personal and planetary issue, one that connects environmental health to brain health in ways we’re only beginning to understand. While the science is still unfolding, Dr. Ryznar’s message is clear: Awareness is the first step toward action, and even small choices, from the products we buy to the policies we support, can help reduce this hidden burden on our minds and on the planet.

塑料既关乎个人，也关乎地球，它以我们才刚刚开始理解的方式将环境健康与大脑健康联系起来。虽然科学研究仍在不断深入，但Ryznar博士的理念很明确：提高认识是行动的第一步，即使是从购买产品到支持的政策等微小选择，也能帮助减轻我们大脑和地球的隐形负担。

About the Expert

关于专家

Elizabeth Ryznar, MD, MSc is a board-certified psychiatrist and the Associate Chair of Psychiatry at St.George’s University. She is also an advisory board member for the Physician and Scientist Network Addressing Plastics and Health (PSNAP).

Elizabeth Ryznar，医学博士，理学硕士，是一位获得认证的精神科医生，也是圣乔治大学精神病学副主任。她还是“医生和科学家塑料与健康网络”（PSNAP）的顾问委员会成员。