RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

24 April 2026

Relatively high levels of micro- and nanoplastics around brain tumours might indicate breakdown of the blood–brain barrier.

Levels of microplastic particles (examples pictured; artificially coloured) are lower in healthy brain tissue than in tissue around brain tumours. Credit: Steve Gschmeissner/Science Photo Library

Scientists have found higher levels of minuscule plastic particles in brain tissue surrounding tumours than in samples of healthy brain 1 .

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