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First Detection of Microplastics Fragments in Human Urine and Kidney Tissues
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Scientists found tiny plastic particles, and even bits of paint pigment, in human urine and kidney tissue for the first time. This matters because kidney disease rates are rising worldwide, including mysterious cases with no clear cause, and researchers now want to find out whether these plastic fragments are passing through our kidneys or actually contributing to kidney damage. It's an early but important clue in understanding how the plastics we're constantly exposed to might affect our organs.
Background: Microplastics (MPs) are small plastic particles (< 5 mm) continuously released into the environment, contaminating natural habitats. Humans are constantly exposed to this kind of pollution: studies proved the presence of MPs in their lungs, liver, placenta, blood, and breast milk. To date, risks related to the uptake of plastic fragments are not well clarified, but their correlation with emerging diseases of unknown etiology cannot be a priori excluded. Due to an epidemic of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) that steadily increases over the decades and emerging new diseases worldwide as CKD of uncertain etiology (CKDu), the presence of MPs in human urines and kidney was investigated, to clarify their contribute to kidney damage. Methods: MicroRaman spectroscopy is a technique of election for MPs detection in different matrices, thanks to its high sensitivity towards different polymers and its high spatial resolution. Urine samples from healthy individuals and kidney tissues from nephrectomies were collected, digested in a KOH 10% solution, and filtered. Particles retained on the surface of the filters were analysed with a Renishaw System 2000 Raman imaging microscope (633 nm laser source). The collected spectra were investigated, to determine the nature of the detected particles. Results: This study revealed the presence of different polymer fragments in both urines and kidneys (polyethylene, polystyrene, and styrene-isoprene gum, Figure 1), as well as pigments residuals (e.g., hematite, Cu-phthalocyanine (blue), and cerulean blue). Conclusions: This study revealed for the first time the presence of microfragments of materials of anthropogenic origin (polymers, pigments, and inorganic particles) in human kidney and urine. The current investigation laid the foundations for further studies on the mechanisms of renal clearance and deposition of these particles, and on their possible role in promoting kidney damage.Polymer fragments detected in the samples.
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