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Detection Methods
Nanoplastics
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Quantitation of micro and nanoplastics in human blood by pyrolysis-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
Microplastics and Nanoplastics2024
77 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 70
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Feride Öykü Sefiloğlu,
Feride Öykü Sefiloğlu,
D. Vethaak,
Feride Öykü Sefiloğlu,
Feride Öykü Sefiloğlu,
Lorenzo Scibetta,
M.H. Lamoree
Lorenzo Scibetta,
Lorenzo Scibetta,
Martin Brits,
M.H. Lamoree
Martin Brits,
Lorenzo Scibetta,
Martin Brits,
Martin J. M. van Velzen,
D. Vethaak,
Martin Brits,
Sicco H. Brandsma,
Lorenzo Scibetta,
Martin Brits,
Martin Brits,
Lorenzo Scibetta,
Lorenzo Scibetta,
Martin J. M. van Velzen,
M.H. Lamoree
Lorenzo Scibetta,
Martin Brits,
Lorenzo Scibetta,
Lorenzo Scibetta,
Martin J. M. van Velzen,
Martin J. M. van Velzen,
Lorenzo Scibetta,
Martin Brits,
Martin Brits,
Martin J. M. van Velzen,
Feride Öykü Sefiloğlu,
D. Vethaak,
Martin Brits,
Martin Brits,
Martin J. M. van Velzen,
Feride Öykü Sefiloğlu,
Martin Brits,
Martin Brits,
Martin Brits,
Martin Brits,
D. Vethaak,
Lorenzo Scibetta,
M.H. Lamoree
D. Vethaak,
Martin J. M. van Velzen,
Martin J. M. van Velzen,
Lorenzo Scibetta,
Lorenzo Scibetta,
Lorenzo Scibetta,
Lorenzo Scibetta,
Lorenzo Scibetta,
Martin Brits,
Martin J. M. van Velzen,
Martin J. M. van Velzen,
Martin J. M. van Velzen,
Sicco H. Brandsma,
M.H. Lamoree
Lorenzo Scibetta,
Lorenzo Scibetta,
Martin J. M. van Velzen,
Martin J. M. van Velzen,
Martin J. M. van Velzen,
Martin J. M. van Velzen,
M.H. Lamoree
D. Vethaak,
Quinn Groenewoud,
Sicco H. Brandsma,
Quinn Groenewoud,
Quinn Groenewoud,
Feride Öykü Sefiloğlu,
Quinn Groenewoud,
Feride Öykü Sefiloğlu,
Sicco H. Brandsma,
Quinn Groenewoud,
Juan J. García‐Vallejo,
M.H. Lamoree
M.H. Lamoree
M.H. Lamoree
M.H. Lamoree
M.H. Lamoree
D. Vethaak,
D. Vethaak,
D. Vethaak,
D. Vethaak,
Quinn Groenewoud,
Quinn Groenewoud,
Quinn Groenewoud,
Juan J. García‐Vallejo,
M.H. Lamoree
D. Vethaak,
Sicco H. Brandsma,
M.H. Lamoree
Sicco H. Brandsma,
M.H. Lamoree
M.H. Lamoree
M.H. Lamoree
D. Vethaak,
Sicco H. Brandsma,
Sicco H. Brandsma,
M.H. Lamoree
M.H. Lamoree
M.H. Lamoree
M.H. Lamoree
Sicco H. Brandsma,
M.H. Lamoree
M.H. Lamoree
D. Vethaak,
M.H. Lamoree
M.H. Lamoree
Martin Brits,
Martin Brits,
M.H. Lamoree
M.H. Lamoree
Summary
Researchers developed and validated an improved method using pyrolysis-gas chromatography to measure specific plastic polymer types in human blood, detecting plastics in 64 out of 68 blood samples tested with a mean concentration of 268 nanograms per milliliter. Polyethylene was the most common polymer found, underscoring that microplastic and nanoplastic particles are already circulating inside the human body.
Abstract The limited available data on human internal exposure poses a significant challenge in assessing the risks associated with micro and nanoplastics (MNPs) to human health. A contributing factor to this challenge is the scarcity of sensitive analytical methods to quantify the mass concentration of plastic polymers in human blood. In this study we present an improved and validated method for quantitatively analysing polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polypropylene, and polystyrene in human whole blood samples. We introduce and apply stringent quality assurance and quality control procedures, including the validation of the method using quality control samples and continuous monitoring of batch analyses to ensure data reliability. Expanding upon prior pioneering work by Leslie et al. (2022), we optimised the pyrolysis-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) conditions to enhance method sensitivity and selectivity. Recovery experiments demonstrated a high level of accuracy and precision, with values ranging from 68 to 109% for quality control samples. Applying this method to whole blood samples ( n = 68), we identified plastic polymers in 64 samples, with PE as the predominant polymer, followed by PVC, PET, and PMMA. In 17 blood samples, polymer concentrations were found to exceed the limit of quantitation, with a mean of 1070 ng/mL for the summed polymer concentrations, ranging between 170 and 2490 ng/mL. The mean of the sum of polymers across all blood samples ( n = 68) was 268 ng/mL. These findings underscore the pressing need for further research aimed at comprehensive MNP quantification in human matrices, considering the potential health implications.