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Microplastics in Kidney Stones: A Preliminary Component of an Integrated One Health Investigation
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Scientists found tiny plastic particles, like those from bottles (PET), plastic bags (PE), and other common plastics, embedded in 8 out of 60 human kidney stones they tested, using a specialized technique that identifies materials based on how they absorb infrared light. This is early-stage research, but it suggests kidney stones might trap plastic particles over time, offering a new way to study how microplastics build up in our bodies and potentially contribute to health problems down the road.
The widespread presence of microplastics (MPs) has emerged as a major One Health concern due to their increasing detection in human tissues and biological fluids. Within an integrated One Health research program, analytical workflows were developed to detect MPs across biological matrices. Kidney stones represent an unexplored pathological biomineral that may preserve evidence of long-term exposure. This pilot study evaluated the application of a Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy (µ-FTIR) workflow for detecting MPs in human kidney stones. Sixty kidney stone samples were examined for MPs. Suspected particles identified by stereomicroscopy were chemically characterized by µ-FTIR. Particles were detected in 8 of 60 kidney stone samples. µ-FTIR analysis identified confirmed polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyurethane (PU) particles. Additional particles showed absorption bands compatible with polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This study demonstrates the applicability of a µ-FTIR workflow for detecting MPs in pathological biominerals and provides preliminary evidence of their presence in kidney stones. These findings support the use of kidney stones as a novel matrix for One Health biomonitoring and provide a methodological basis for future studies integrating urine, organoids, and multi-omics approaches to investigate the biological significance of microplastic exposure.
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Scientists found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) inside human kidney stones for the first time, adding urinary stones to the growing list of body parts, including the placenta, brain, and testes, where these particles have been discovered. While this doesn't yet prove plastics *cause* kidney stones, it raises important questions about whether these everyday plastic particles might contribute to stone formation or other health problems, and highlights just how deeply plastics have infiltrated our bodies.
Microplastics in Urinary Calculi: Evidence from Human Urinary Stones
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Scientists found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in every single kidney stone they tested from 13 patients, the first time this has been shown. This suggests plastic bits we're exposed to through food, water, and packaging might actually help kidney stones form, possibly by giving crystals a surface to latch onto and grow. With kidney stones becoming more common worldwide, this research raises new questions about whether everyday plastic exposure is quietly contributing to this painful condition.
MicroRaman spectroscopy detects the presence of microplastics in human urine and kidney tissue
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Scientists confirmed for the first time that microplastics accumulate in human kidney tissue, finding 26 plastic particles in kidney and urine samples using advanced spectroscopy. The most common plastics found were polyethylene and polystyrene, with particles ranging from 1 to 29 micrometers in kidneys, providing the first direct evidence that microplastics can deposit in human kidneys.
#6111 First Identification and Characterization of Microplastics in Human Kidney and Urine
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Researchers report the first identification of microplastics in human kidney tissue and urine samples. Using microscopy and spectroscopy, they detected plastic particles in all kidney and urine samples examined, with polyethylene and polypropylene among the most common types found. The study adds kidneys and urine to the growing list of human organs and body fluids where microplastics have been documented, raising questions about potential effects on kidney function.
Microplastics in human urine: Characterisation using μFTIR and sampling challenges using healthy donors and endometriosis participants
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Researchers analyzed urine samples from healthy individuals and endometriosis patients, detecting microplastics in the majority of both groups, with 22 different polymer types found. While microplastic levels were not significantly different between the two groups, the finding that plastics like polyethylene, polystyrene, and PTFE are being excreted in human urine confirms that these particles are circulating through the body.
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