About the illustration

This journal cover illustration explores the emerging concern of microplastics migrating from the gut and accumulating in major organs—most notably, the brain. Inspired by the 2024 Environmental Health Perspectives article, “In Vivo Tissue Distribution of Polystyrene or Mixed Polymer Microspheres in Mice” (Garcia et al., 2024), the image uses visual metaphor to reveal the often-invisible impact of environmental plastic exposure on human health.

A bright spotlight illuminates the brain plate with warm pinks and oranges, drawing the viewer’s gaze to the brain and the plastic items within the magnifying glass. The background utilizes cooler tones to create a visual juxtaposition between the serene environment and the unsettling presence of plastic items within the brain, enhancing the audience’s focus on the issue.

This illustration was created as a conceptual journal cover for a scientific publication.