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Microplastic Particles and Infusion Therapy — Evidence, Implications, and Unanswered Questions
Summary
Researchers highlighted microplastic exposure via medical infusion devices and pharmaceutical containers as an underappreciated but significant route of human exposure, reviewing current evidence on particle-body interactions and identifying gaps between emerging clinical research and existing industry testing standards and regulations.
The growing accumulation of plastic waste, including microscopic particles in the environment, is an alarming development. It has long been recognised that these particles can enter the human body. Recent studies focus on environmental sources of these particles. This article highlights a less frequently discussed, but significant, route of exposure: the infusion of particles via medical devices and pharmaceutical containers. One possible reason for this is the assumption that infusion devices are inherently safe due to strict regulations and rigorous testing. Nonetheless, advances in clinical research and the development of specialised test methods have yet to be fully integrated into current industry standards. This paper reviews the current understanding of microscopic plastic particles, with emphasis on their interaction with the human body, applied test methods and limitations. It further contrasts these insights with existing regulations. Finally, it identifies key areas for future interdisciplinary research in biomedicine, engineering, and public health.