People newly diagnosed with ALS had higher nano- and microplastic levels than controls
Original source
Central nervous system concentrations of nano- and microplastics and risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. (opens in a new tab)Compass summarised this from the study's abstract.
Study details
- Studied in
- Human
Population inferred from the title and abstract by Compass.
A hospital-based case-control study found higher concentrations of nano- and microplastics in blood serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) among 24 people newly diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) than among 20 controls. Higher CSF levels were associated with greater odds of ALS, while serum levels were associated with a nerve-damage biomarker among people with ALS. The study found an association, not proof that plastics cause ALS.
Why this matters
The findings may help guide research into possible environmental factors involved in motor neuron degeneration. They do not currently change ALS treatment or show that reducing plastic exposure prevents or improves ALS.
Limitations and context
This was a small, hospital-based case-control study, so it cannot establish cause and effect. The researchers said reverse causation, lifestyle changes and other chemical exposures could explain the association. The study also measured plastic concentrations at diagnosis, so it does not show whether exposure occurred before ALS developed or whether changing exposure would affect disease.