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Deposition of polyethylene micro- and nano-plastics is associated with accumulation of cadmium in lungs of smokers: A pilot study
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Researchers found that smokers' lungs contained more tiny plastic particles (from things like plastic packaging and PVC pipes) than non-smokers' lungs, along with higher levels of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal also found in cigarette smoke. The more plastic buildup someone had, the more cadmium was also present, suggesting these two pollutants may accumulate together in the lungs, though this small study of just 19 people can't prove one causes the other to build up more.
Airborne micro- and nano- plastics (MNPs) are emerging environmental toxicants which may affect lung cellular functions. Deposition of MNPs in lungs of susceptible individuals e.g. smokers, is not known. We determined the deposition of MNPs in the lungs of smokers and non-smokers. Lung tissues from age and sex-matched smokers (n = 9) and non-smokers (n = 10) were analyzed to quantify: (a) microplastic levels using pyro-GC/MS, and (b) heavy metal accumulation using ICP-MS, given the synergistic environmental effects of these pollutants. Py-GC/MS analysis showed a relatively higher level of MNPs in the lungs of smokers (43.67 mcg/gm) as compared to non-smokers (34.53 mcg/gm). We observed a significant increase in the levels of polyethylene (PE; q = 0.0128), polyvinyl chloride (PVC; q = 0.0013) and polyurethane (PU; q = 0.0485) polymers in the lungs of smokers. Pairwise comparisons of elemental analyses results found an increase in the levels of cadmium (Cd) in the lungs of smokers. Importantly, we observed a strong association (R2 = 0.6392; p = 0.005) between the amounts of accumulated PE and levels of Cd in the lungs of non-smokers versus smokers. Overall, our results show a positive correlation between bioaccumulation of polyethylene (PE) and cadmium (Cd) in the lungs based on smoking status.
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121 Deposition of microplastics associated with bioaccumulation of heavy metals in human lungs: adsorption and mobilization of metals via microplastics
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Researchers compared microplastic and heavy metal accumulation in archived lung tissue from smokers and non-smokers using pyrolysis GC/MS and ICP-MS, finding elevated polyethylene and polycarbonate concentrations in smoker lungs alongside significantly higher cadmium levels — suggesting smoking promotes co-deposition of certain polymers with heavy metals in pulmonary tissue.
Deposition of microplastics associated with bioaccumulation of heavy metals in human lungs of smokers: Implications of adsorption and mobilization of metals via microplastics
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Researchers compared lung tissue from smokers and non-smokers and found that smokers accumulated more microplastics alongside elevated levels of heavy metals in lung tissue, suggesting that tobacco smoke enhances chelation of heavy metals to airborne microplastics, increasing lung bioaccumulation.
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Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics exacerbated cadmium-induced mitochondrial damage in mouse lungs by blocking autophagy, revealing a synergistic toxicity mechanism when these two common environmental contaminants co-occur.
New Evidence of Microplastics in the Lower Respiratory Tract: Inhalation through Smoking
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Researchers collected lung fluid samples from smokers and nonsmokers and found that smokers had significantly higher concentrations of microplastics in their lower respiratory tract. A laboratory smoking simulation confirmed that cigarette smoke itself carries microplastic particles, including polyurethane and silicone. The study identifies smoking as a previously unrecognized route of microplastic inhalation, adding to the known health concerns associated with tobacco use.
Impact of Airborne Microplastics on Induced Sputum of Urban Dwellers: the Role of Environmental and Occupational Factors
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Researchers analyzed induced sputum samples from 25 patients with respiratory diseases and found microplastics present in all samples, with concentrations ranging from 6 to 500 particles per 100 mL. Active smokers and workers in occupations with high plastic exposure had significantly higher microplastic concentrations. The study suggests that airborne microplastic inhalation is widespread among urban residents and may be influenced by both lifestyle and occupational factors.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.