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Is intravenous infusion an unrecognized route for internal microplastic human exposure? A general assessment
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This study discovered that microplastics are present in intravenous (IV) infusion products used in hospitals, identifying a previously unrecognized route of microplastic exposure that bypasses the body's natural barriers. Standard IV filters removed some but not all of the plastic particles. This finding is important because IV-delivered microplastics go directly into the bloodstream, potentially posing a greater risk than microplastics that are eaten or inhaled.
As newly recognized environmental pollutants, microplastics (MPs, ≤5 mm in length) have been reported in various human tissues and fluids, including the spleen, liver, heart, blood and blood clots, raising global concerns about their impact on human health. This study investigated the characteristics of MPs in intravenous infusion and the removal of MPs from infusion products by infusion sets fitted with different filters using micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. MPs were detected in infusion products, with an average abundance of 1.24 ± 1.44 items/unit (2.91 ± 3.91 items/L). The primary types of MPs identified were fragmented particles of polyethene and polypropylene, ranging in size from 15-100 µm. Internal filters in infusion sets played a crucial role in removing MPs, particularly fibrous ones, resulting in a reduction in both abundance and particle size of MPs in the human body. Moreover, this study conducted a general assessment of intravenous microplastic exposure among hospital patients and estimated the global per-person input of MPs via intravenous administration. It is an opportunity for us to gain a deeper understanding of MPs in intravenous infusion and provides guides selecting infusion devices, increasing awareness of associated health risks.
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Hidden hazards: microplastics in intravenous admixtures and their path into the body
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This study investigated microplastic contamination in intravenous (IV) fluid bags used in hospitals, finding that prolonged storage in plastic containers leads to microplastic particles leaching into the solution. This means patients receiving IV treatments may be exposed to microplastics that enter the bloodstream directly, bypassing the body's natural barriers. The findings highlight an overlooked route of microplastic exposure in medical settings that needs further investigation.
Microplastics Entry into the Blood by Infusion Therapy: Few but a Direct Pathway
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Researchers tested infusion therapy equipment including glass bottles, plastic bottles, plastic bags, and tubes for microplastic contamination. They found microplastics in about 12% of samples, with particles ranging from 4 to 148 micrometers in size. Although the amounts were small, the study shows that IV infusions could be a direct route for microplastics to enter the bloodstream, which may partly explain why microplastics have been found in human blood.
Clinical infusion bypasses physiological barriers to directly deliver microplastics into human circulation
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Researchers found that IV drips (like saline or glucose solutions) can release tiny plastic particles directly into your bloodstream, likely coming from the plastic bags and tubing used during infusion. A typical 5-day hospital IV treatment could deliver over 1,000 microplastic particles straight into your blood — skipping the body's natural filters like skin and gut, and packing in months' worth of the plastic exposure you'd normally get from breathing or eating. This suggests hospitals may need safer, plastic-free medical equipment to reduce an exposure route we hadn't been paying much attention to.
Micro(nano)plastics (< 4 μm): An important but ignored concern during intravenous infusion
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Researchers found that common IV bags, tubes, and syringes release thousands of tiny plastic particles directly into the bloodstream during routine medical treatments. The particles, smaller than 4 micrometers, included types like PVC and polypropylene and were found in nearly all tested infusion products. This is a significant finding because it identifies a previously overlooked source of microplastic exposure that bypasses the body's natural barriers entirely.
Intravenous hypertonic fluids as a source of human microplastic exposure
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Researchers tested 13 brands of intravenous hypertonic fluid solutions and found microplastics in every single sample, with an average of about 63 particles per liter. The particles were mostly fragments of various plastics ranging from 0.04 to 2.37 millimeters in size. This is especially concerning because IV fluids bypass the body's natural barriers like the gut and lungs, delivering microplastics directly into the bloodstream of hospital patients.
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