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Microplastics and Nanoplastics in human tissues: Systematic review of evidence, analytical protocols, and methodological challenges
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This systematic review pulls together evidence on microplastics and nanoplastics found in human tissues like lungs, liver, and placenta. It confirms that tiny plastic particles are accumulating in our bodies, though detection methods still vary widely between studies, making it hard to compare results.
Microplastics and NanoPlastics (MNP) have emerged as ubiquitous environmental contaminants with potential implications for human health. This systematic review synthesizes current evidence on the occurrence of MNP in human solid tissues and critically evaluates the analytical protocols employed for their detection and quantification. A comprehensive literature search conducted in September 2025 across MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, identified 26 eligible studies encompassing 564 human samples from diverse biological matrices, including placenta, lung, liver, blood, and bone. Polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride were the most frequently detected polymers, while particle sizes predominantly ranged between 20 and 100 μm. Analytical techniques varied substantially across studies, with Raman and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy representing the most widely applied methods, often complemented by microscopy or pyrolysis–GC/MS for polymer confirmation. Reported MNPs abundances ranged from less than one to several thousand particles per gram of tissue, reflecting the lack of standardized procedures for extraction, quantification, and contamination control. Recent investigations have increasingly implemented plastic-free workflows and procedural blanks, leading to improved reliability and reduced overestimation of MNP burden. Nevertheless, persistent methodological heterogeneity continues to hinder cross-study comparability and the establishment of true human tissue loads. Preliminary correlations between MNP accumulation and clinical or pathological parameters have been observed, but causal links remain unconfirmed. This review highlights the urgent need for internationally harmonized protocols, rigorous contamination prevention, and standardized reporting to ensure reliable biomonitoring and clarify the potential health implications of microplastic exposure in humans.
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Micro- and nanoplastics in human biological materials: a systematic review of detection methods and methodological challenges
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Scientists have found tiny plastic particles in human organs like the placenta, liver, lungs, and kidneys, but this review of existing research reveals a big problem: labs around the world are testing for these particles in wildly inconsistent ways, using different tools, definitions, and measurement units. This makes it hard to know exactly how much plastic is really in our bodies or what health risks it poses—meaning we need more standardized research before drawing firm conclusions about how worried we should be.
Systemic Accumulation and Distribution of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Human Tissues and Their Impact on Health: A Systematic Review
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This systematic review synthesizes human evidence on the presence of micro- and nanoplastics in body tissues and fluids, including blood, lungs, placenta, breast milk, and liver. The research confirms that plastic particles can cross biological barriers and accumulate in multiple organ systems. While the long-term health effects are still being studied, the widespread presence of plastics inside the human body raises significant health concerns.
Systemic translocation of micro- and nanoplastics in humans: Evidence, mechanisms and future perspectives
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This review summarizes existing research on tiny plastic particles found in human tissues like the placenta, lungs, liver, kidneys, and brain. It examines how these particles might move through the body, based mainly on lab and animal studies, and notes that detection methods and human evidence still have major limitations.
Analytical Methods for Microplastic Detection in Hepatic and Gastrointestinal Human Tissues: A Review and Methodological Framework
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Scientists have found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in human liver and gut tissue, but this review shows that different labs use very different methods to detect them, making it hard to compare results or know how much plastic is really in our bodies. The researchers didn't discover new health risks, instead, they're calling for standardized testing methods so future studies can give us clearer, more reliable answers about how microplastics affect our health.
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This scoping review summarizes studies that have detected microplastics in various human tissues and organs. The review found that microplastics enter the body through multiple routes and have distinct characteristics depending on where they accumulate. The variety of analytical techniques used across studies makes direct comparisons difficult, highlighting the need for standardized methods.
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