We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics in human lung tissue from autopsy samples collected in 1991 and 2024: a comparative post-mortem study
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists compared lung tissue from people who died in 1991 to those who died in 2024 and found a striking jump in microplastic contamination, from about 19% of samples containing plastic particles to 77%. The particles found today are also smaller and more varied in type, and lungs with microplastics showed more inflammation and scarring than those without, though this study alone can't prove the plastics caused that damage. It's an early but concerning signal that plastic pollution may be accumulating more heavily in our bodies over time, adding to questions about long-term health effects.
Background Environmental accumulation and human exposure to microplastics MPs are increasing. It is not known whether there is a higher bioaccumulation of microplastics (MPs) in human lungs collected recently and compared with those collected decades ago. We aimed to assess changes in the presence, abundance, size, and types of MPs in human lung tissue collected 33 years apart, and to characterize histological patterns in these samples. Methods We performed a comparative study of paraffin-embedded lung tissues collected post-mortem from two series of autopsy cases deceased either in 1991 (n = 42) or in 2024 (n = 57), both from the same tertiary care medical center. We assessed MPs prevalence, abundance, size, and polymer type using laser-direct infrared (LDIR) imaging. Particle count per gram of tissue was the primary endpoint. As supporting analysis, we evaluated MPs type and concentrations through pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) in a representative subset of samples. We also assessed collagen I staining to evaluate fibrosis and CD68 infiltration as an index of lung inflammation. Findings MPs were identified by LDIR in lung samples from 8/42 individuals (19%) deceased in 1991 and 44/57 (77%) deceased in 2024. MP burden per gram of tissue (median; Q1-Q3) increased from 12.9 particles (11.3–13.7) to 19.9 (15.5–28.2), with results corroborated by a two-part hurdle model analysis. Particle diameter decreased from 56.2 μm (44.9–73.4) to 22.4 μm (15.4–37.9). When considering the mean ± SD of the relative abundance (%) of each plastic type/total MPs for each individual positive to MPs in the two groups, polymer composition shifted from polyethylene predominance (51.7 ± 2%) in 1991 to a more heterogeneous mix including polyethylene terephthalate (28.4 ± 3.1%), polyvinyl chloride (14.3 ± 2.4%), and polystyrene (14.2 ± 2.6%) in 2024. Py-GC/MS provided similar results in terms of MPs prevalence and relative abundance, while SEM suggested a pervasive presence of particles enriched in Sulphur in the 2024 group. Lung samples with evidence of MPs showed higher CD68 and collagen I abundance compared with those without evidence of MPs, independently of the case series. Interpretation MPs contamination of human lung tissue was more frequently detected, showed greater polymer diversity, and was composed of smaller particles in post-mortem samples collected in 2024 compared with those collected in 1991. These observations are hypothesis-generating and should be interpreted in the context of the observational, cross-sectional, and retrospective nature of the study design. Funding This work has been supported by Italian Ministry of Health through Ricerca Corrente to IRCCS MultiMedica, and by Ricerca Ateneofund for Outcomes Research in Cardiovascular Diseases.
More Papers Like This
Temporal Trend in Accumulation of Microplastics in Decedent Human Lungs
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers compared lung tissue samples from people who died in 1991 and 2024 and found that microplastic presence increased from 19% to 77% of individuals over that period, with the number of particles per gram of tissue also rising significantly. The polymer composition shifted from predominantly polyethylene to a more diverse mix including PET and PVC, and lung samples containing microplastics showed greater signs of inflammation and fibrosis.
Presence of airborne microplastics in human lung tissue
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined human lung tissue from autopsies and found microplastic particles and fibers in 13 out of 20 samples. The most common plastics were polyethylene and polypropylene, with particles smaller than 5.5 micrometers. This study provides direct evidence that inhaled microplastics accumulate in human lungs, raising concerns about potential long-term effects on respiratory health.
Microplastics in Human Thoracic Tissues: Increased Burden in Patients with Lung Malignancy
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists looked at lung and chest tissue from 50 people having surgery for suspected lung cancer and found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in nearly two-thirds of them. People with confirmed lung cancer were more likely to have these particles in their tissue, and in higher amounts, than those with non-cancerous conditions, though this study can't prove the plastics actually cause cancer. It's an early but important clue that the plastic particles we breathe in every day may be building up in our lungs and could be linked to cancer risk, something researchers say needs more investigation.
Bioaccumulation of microplastics in decedent human brains
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found microplastics in human brain, liver, and kidney tissue samples, with plastic levels significantly higher in samples from 2024 compared to 2016. The brain contained especially high levels of polyethylene, and brains from people with dementia had even more plastic accumulation. These findings suggest that microplastics are building up in human organs over time, raising urgent questions about potential health effects.
D18-01 Small Microplastics in Human Lung Tissue: Detection, Quantification and Characterization
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists examined lung tissue from 56 people and found tiny plastic fragments (from sources like nylon, tire rubber, and PVC) in every sample, with amounts varying widely from person to person. The good news: plastic levels weren't clearly linked to lung diseases like COPD or pulmonary fibrosis, but researchers still don't know whether these plastic particles are causing harm inside the lungs — that research is still underway. This matters because it confirms we're breathing in plastic pollution regularly, even though the health consequences are still being figured out.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.