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Identifying and analyzing the microplastics in human aqueous humor by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
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For the first time, researchers detected microplastics in the aqueous humor, the clear fluid inside the human eye. Five types of plastic were found, with polyethylene and PVC being the most common, and adults had more particles than children or elderly individuals. This discovery adds the eye to the growing list of human organs where microplastics accumulate, raising new questions about potential effects on eye health.
Microplastics (MPs), an emerging global pollutant, pose potential risks to human health and have garnered increasing attention. Previous research has identified MPs in various human tissues and organs, but not in the aqueous humor of the eyes. This study used pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) to explore MPs in aqueous humor. Five types of MPs-polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polyamide 66 (PA66), and polystyrene (PS)-were found, with PE and PVC being most common. PP was more prevalent in children, while PA66 was more common in adults. MPs abundance generally followed the trend: adults > children > elders among age groups, and females > males between gender groups. Notably, this study is the first to confirm MPs in human aqueous humor, providing a foundation for future research on their impact on intraocular health and enhancing our understanding of the MPs' body distribution.
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Detection andCharacterization of Multiple Microplasticsin the Human Retina
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Researchers used pyrolysis-GC/MS to characterize microplastics in 12 post-mortem human retinal samples and found MPs in the retinal tissue for the first time. Multiple polymer types were detected, including polyethylene and polypropylene, indicating that MPs can reach and accumulate in the highly sensitive tissue of the human eye.
Revealing new insights: Two-center evidence of microplastics in human vitreous humor and their implications for ocular health
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In the first multi-center study of its kind, researchers detected microplastics inside the vitreous humor (the gel inside the eye) of 49 patients with various eye diseases, with most particles smaller than 50 micrometers. Higher microplastic levels were linked to concerning eye health measures like increased pressure inside the eye, and patients with retinopathy showed especially elevated levels.
Pilot Study on Human Exposure to Microplastics in Intraocular Fluids and Bisphenols in Serum: Analytical Detection and Characterisation
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Scientists found tiny plastic particles inside the fluid of human eyes and detected plastic-related chemicals called bisphenols (like BPA) in blood samples from the same people, showing that plastics can accumulate in places we might not expect, including our eyes. This is early, small-scale research, so it doesn't yet tell us whether these plastics are harmful, but it adds to growing evidence that microplastics are getting into our bodies in ways scientists are still working to understand.
Intraocular microplastics and their association with age-related macular degeneration: Evidence from aqueous humor profiling and bioinformatics analysis
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Researchers examined fluid from inside the eye in people with and without age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and found microplastics in every sample. Polystyrene levels were higher in AMD patients than in controls, and higher PVC levels were linked to worse vision within the AMD group. Analysis suggested possible connections to inflammation-related biological pathways.
Detection and Characterization of Multiple Microplastics in the Human Retina
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Scientists detected microplastics in all 12 post-mortem human retina samples tested, with concentrations averaging about 49 micrograms per gram of tissue. Common plastics like polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, and PVC were found, mostly as tiny fragments and fibers between 20 and 50 micrometers. This is the first study to confirm and measure microplastics in the human eye, raising new questions about whether these particles could affect vision or retinal health over time.
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