Microplastic Pollution Detected in Human Blood for the First Time

A worrisome discovery focusing on microplastic pollution indicates that people carry these tiny particles in their blood.

As part of the research published in Environment International, the scientists examined 22 donors whose blood samples were analyzed. According to the study, microplastics were found in 17 of them.

“Our study is the first indication that we have polymer particles in our blood,” Dick Vethaak, professor in the field of ecotoxicology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Vethaak described the result as a breakthrough.

Concerns stemming from microplastic pollution

Further research including more samples, however, is needed. “We have to extend the research and increase the sample sizes,” Vethaak told The Guardian. “It is certainly reasonable to be concerned. The particles are there and are transported throughout the body.”

The analyses revealed that the aforementioned samples included polyethylene terephthalate, which is shaped into drink bottles used every day. In addition, polystyrene to preserve consumer products and polyethylene as a source of poly bags were also found in some of the samples.

In the study, the presence of microplastics that are 0.0007mm in size was detected at an average of 1.6 micrograms for every milliliter of blood. To envision, it corresponds to one teaspoon of 1000 liters of water.

What microplastics do in our body is unknown

It should not be surprising that such a result emerged due to our daily reliance on plastic-made products, and scientists have no idea yet how these microplastics behave in human blood. Note, particles in the air pose a threat to human health as they enter the body while inhaling, resulting in deaths every year around the globe.

“The big question is what is happening in our body? Are the particles retained in the body? Are they transported to certain organs, such as getting past the blood-brain barrier?” Vethaak asked.

He emphasized that more studies should be done to investigate whether the plastics in question cause disease.