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Non-Destructive Extraction and Characterization of Human Pulmonary Microplastics and the Associated Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
Summary
Scientists developed a new way to extract tiny plastic particles (microplastics) from human lung tissue and found 16 different plastic types, plus 71 chemical additives linked to hormone disruption. Smokers and people over 60 had notably more plastic buildup in their lungs, and the chemical additives were found at higher concentrations directly on the plastic particles than in surrounding tissue—suggesting these plastics could be a concentrated source of chemical exposure inside our bodies. While researchers haven't yet confirmed what health harm this causes, the findings highlight why understanding what's actually in our lungs matters for future health
Inhalation exposure to microplastics (MPs) and associated plastic additives has raised growing public health concerns, although their distribution and potential health impacts in human lungs remain poorly understood. To minimize interference from lipids and collagen fibers, particulate matter (PM) was first extracted from lung tissues using a non-destructive ultrasonic treatment and sequential centrifugation (USC) method, followed by obtaining the microplastic extract (MPE) using ultrasound and density separation (UDS), and subsequent detection of EDCs via GC-MS. This approach enabled characterization of both pulmonary MPs and associated EDCs. Sixteen polymer types were identified, with nylon (27.3%), polyester (10.7%), and polyurethane (7.8%) being the most abundant, alongside 71 EDCs, including phthalic acid esters (PAEs), organophosphate esters (OPEs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Smokers and individuals over 60 years old showed significantly higher pulmonary MP abundances (P < 0.01). EDC concentrations were higher in MPE than in surrounding lung tissues, particularly for PAEs, which showed elevated enrichment factor MPs (EFMs range: 16.4-101; mean: 50.1). The average concentration of pulmonary MPs, estimated via PAEs under an upper-bound scenario, was 7.35 mg/kg. The heterogeneous distribution of MPs and additives within pulmonary tissues may have implications for localized exposure, although the biological effects remain to be further investigated. These findings underscore the importance of characterizing MPs and associated contaminants to better assess potential health risks.