A doctor pointed out that one specific way of drinking water acts as an accomplice to colorectal cancer, causing the amount of a harmful substance in the intestines to be 3.4 times higher. This substance can even spread throughout the body with cancer cells. A recent study also indicates that this harmful substance is similarly present in the human brain and may be related to dementia.
Gastroenterologist Qin Jing-huang warned on his Facebook page that one drinking water habit is related to colorectal cancer. He mentioned that recent studies have found that the number of microplastics in colorectal cancer cells is 3.4 times higher than in normal colon tissue. These microplastics can also multiply with the cancer cells and even metastasize to other organs.
Drinking Bottled Water and Other Habits Lead to Ingesting Microplastics, Potentially Causing Colorectal Cancer
Qin described microplastics as, if not the main culprit of colorectal cancer, certainly an accomplice. Microplastics are commonly found in various everyday items, and even foods like drinking water, beer, seafood, and sea salt are actually contaminated with microplastics. On average, each person ingests about 39,000 to 52,000 microplastic particles annually.
Frequently drinking bottled water, or using plastic bags, cups, and other containers to hold soups and foods, allows more microplastics to enter the body. This is because even at normal room temperature, these plastic containers can leach out particles, which are ingested and absorbed by the intestinal mucosa. Studies have found that people who often drink bottled water may ingest an additional 90,000 microplastic particles per year, while those who drink tap water only ingest about 4,000 particles. Therefore, Qin recommends carrying your own water bottle for water or drinks when going out.
A new study published in Nature Medicine in February 2025 confirms the increasingly serious impact of microplastics on the human body. A research team from the University of New Mexico analyzed organ samples from 28 people who died in 2016 and 24 who died in 2024, finding microplastics in the brains, livers, and kidneys. The amount in the brain was seven to 30 times higher than in the liver and kidneys, accounting for about 0.48 percent of the brain's weight.
In the 2024 samples, the amount of microplastics in the human brain increased sharply by 50 percent compared to eight years prior, equivalent to the weight of one plastic spoon. Additionally, the team collected brain tissue samples from people who died between 1997 and 2013 for comparison, finding a significant upward trend in the amount of microplastics present in the human brain.
Among the analyzed samples, 12 individuals had dementia, and their brains contained more microplastic particles up to 10 times more. Professor Matthew Campen, who led the team, stated that this study cannot prove whether microplastics cause dementia or if the symptoms of dementia make it easier for microplastics to accumulate in the brain. However, given that environmental microplastics are increasing exponentially, greater efforts are needed next to understand whether microplastics affect neurological diseases or other health conditions.
Centre for Food Safety Teaches 2 Tricks to Reduce Intake of Microplastics
The Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety states that "microplastics" are tiny plastic pieces that can pollute the environment, harm marine ecosystems, and even enter the food chain, being ingested by humans. The European Food Safety Authority defines microplastics as irregularly shaped plastic mixtures ranging in size from 0.1 to 5000 micrometers. They can be as small as some bacteria or as large as a soybean.
In the marine environment, microplastics from different sources can be found, including tiny particles from products like exfoliating skincare products, as well as debris from the breakdown of larger plastic waste. The Centre reminds the public to thoroughly wash fish and seafood before cooking, especially by removing the removable internal organs, which can reduce the intake of microplastics.
