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Methods for detecting microplastics in human tissues, with a focus on vascular and intravascular specimens
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This review summarizes existing research on methods for detecting tiny plastic particles in human tissues, including blood, blood vessels, liver, placenta and heart tissue. It describes the strengths, weaknesses and challenges of different detection techniques, noting that no standard method currently exists for this testing.
Due to increasing environmental contamination resulting from human activity, micro- and nanoplastics are becoming increasingly detected within human biological systems. Human exposure occurs primarily through the digestive and respiratory tracts, as well as through dermal contact. In recent years, several studies have identified micro- and nanoplastics not only at these sites of exposure but also within internal human tissues, including the liver, placenta, myocardium, blood, thrombi, and vascular specimens. These findings suggest that such particles may cross biological barriers and disseminate through the circulatory system to distant organs and tissues. At present, however, there is no standardized method for the detection and characterization of micro- and nanoplastics in human tissues. This review summarizes the currently available analytical methods used for the detection of micro- and nanoplastics in human tissues, with particular emphasis on vascular and intravascular specimens, and discusses their applicability, advantages, limitations, and methodological challenges across different biological matrices.
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