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The Hidden Plastic Pathway: Microplastic Migration from Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition Systems in Intensive Care
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This review paper looks at feeding tubes and IV nutrition equipment used for seriously ill hospital patients, such as containers, tubing and connectors made of plastic. It summarizes existing research on how tiny plastic particles or chemicals might move from this equipment into the nutrition fluids patients receive, and outlines areas needing further study.
Enteral and parenteral nutrition are essential for critically ill patients who cannot meet their nutritional needs by ordinary eating. Both routes bring nutrient solutions into contact with containers, connectors, syringes, filters and tubing, many of which contain polymers. These materials may be sources of microscopic plastic particles or chemical constituents that migrate into fluids. This narrative review examines potential pathways of microplastic exposure through nutrition systems in intensive care, summarizes emerging evidence, and identifies practical and research priorities.
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An Ex Vivo Study Examining Migration of Microplastics from an Infused Neonatal Parenteral Nutrition Circuit
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This ex vivo study quantified microplastics released from neonatal parenteral nutrition infusion circuits, finding that plastic particles migrate from the tubing and connectors into infused solutions, raising concerns about iatrogenic microplastic exposure in vulnerable neonatal patients.
Supporting data for the article 'An ex vivo study examining migration of microplastics from an infused neonatal parenteral nutrition circuit'
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This supporting dataset documents an ex vivo study measuring microplastic migration from medical tubing used in neonatal parenteral nutrition circuits. Infants receiving intravenous nutrition through plastic medical devices may be directly exposed to microplastics, raising health concerns for one of the most vulnerable patient populations.
Microplastic in perfusion: the hidden risk and how to address it
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This commentary addresses the emerging concern that cardiopulmonary bypass circuits and other extracorporeal circulation systems release significant levels of micro- and nanoplastics into patients during medical procedures. The authors note that the same properties making plastics ideal for medical tubing also make their degradation products potentially harmful. The study calls for further research into the clinical implications of plastic particle exposure during these increasingly common medical interventions.
Microplastics in neonates: an overlooked cost of parenteral nutrition
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Researchers detected microplastics in neonatal blood at levels that increased with parenteral nutrition duration, with larger particles over 60 µm found exclusively in long-term recipients — suggesting that intravenous nutrition delivery systems may be an underrecognized iatrogenic source of microplastic exposure in vulnerable newborns.
Supporting data for the article 'An ex vivo study examining migration of microplastics from an infused neonatal parenteral nutrition circuit'
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Researchers conducted an ex vivo study examining the migration of microplastics from infused neonatal parenteral nutrition circuits, providing raw concentration data and ATR-FTIR spectral characterization of particles shed by individual circuit components.
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.