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Micro(nano)plastics (< 4 μm): An important but ignored concern during intravenous infusion
Summary
Researchers found that common IV bags, tubes, and syringes release thousands of tiny plastic particles directly into the bloodstream during routine medical treatments. The particles, smaller than 4 micrometers, included types like PVC and polypropylene and were found in nearly all tested infusion products. This is a significant finding because it identifies a previously overlooked source of microplastic exposure that bypasses the body's natural barriers entirely.
Micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) have been observed in human blood, and atheroma, and they are associated with cardiovascular events. However, their sources remain poorly understood. Intravenous infusion products (IVIPs) might introduce MNPs directly into the human blood, which threatens health, but they remain unknown. Herein, simulated intravenous therapy was performed to detect multiple MNPs with sizes < 4 μm released from commonly used IVIPs through established analytical methods such as modified Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Results showed that polypropylene- and polyvinyl chloride- MNPs were identified from six different IVIPs during intravenous therapy via modified Raman spectroscopy. Furthermore, SEM-EDS analysis observed irregular or near-spherical MNPs ranging from 10 nm to 3.6 μm, with a number concentration of (5.82 ± 0.86) × 10 items/L during intravenous therapy. These MNPs could directly enter the human blood with infusion fluids via intravenous therapy, posing serious risks to human health and affecting the safe use of IVIPs. Overall, these findings revealed that intravenous therapy could introduce MNPs, especially nanoplastics, directly into the human blood, highlighting the importance of considering MNPs in evaluating the safety of IVIPs.