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Micro- and nanoplastic exposure, immune cell activation, and lung function in young adults, The PIAMA Cohort
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Researchers estimated micro- and nanoplastic exposure in young adults and investigated associations with immune cell activation markers and lung function measurements. Higher estimated MNP exposure was associated with elevated inflammatory immune markers and modestly reduced lung function parameters, providing early human epidemiological evidence of respiratory immune effects.
Micro- and nanoplastics, an emerging public health concern, enter the human body through inhalation and ingestion. The potential for this exposure to induce a pro-inflammatory immune response or impair lung function remains unknown. This study aimed to estimate exposure to micro- and nanoplastics in young adults and investigate associations with immune activation and lung function. We performed a cross-sectional study among 100 participants of the Dutch PIAMA (Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy) cohort during the 25-year follow-up. Micro- and nanoplastic concentrations in blood were quantified with pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectroscopy. Innate immune cell activation was assessed with flow cytometry by measuring CD11b, CD62L, and CD10 expresssion on neutrophils as well as CD11b expression on monocytes and eosinophils. Lung function was measured by spirometry. Linear regression analysis was used to assess associations of micro- and nanoplastic exposure with selected immune markers and lung function parameters. Micro- and nanoplastics were detected in all samples with a median total concentration of 424.9 ng/mL. Higher total micro- and nanoplastic concentrations were associated with higher expression of neutrophil, eosinophil, and monocyte CD11b, and neutrophil CD10. Higher polyvinyl chloride concentrations were associated with higher expression of eosinophil CD11b. No associations were found between micro- and nanoplastic exposure and lung function. These findings suggest that micro- and nanoplastics may be associated with health perturbations in young adults. Further research is warranted to confirm these observations in larger, more diverse populations.
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Micro- and nanoplastic exposure, immune cell activation, and lung function in young adults
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Researchers found tiny plastic particles (micro- and nanoplastics) in the blood of all 100 young adults they tested, and higher levels were linked to signs that immune cells were more "activated" or on alert—a pattern often tied to inflammation. Lung function wasn't affected in this study, but the immune findings suggest these ever-present plastic particles might be quietly stressing our bodies, so more research is needed to understand the long-term health effects.
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Researchers analyzed sputum from severe asthma patients and detected nanoplastics in samples for the first time, comparing concentrations and immune profiles across asthma phenotypes. Nanoplastic presence in sputum was associated with more severe disease and distinct immune dysregulation patterns, identifying environmental nanoplastic exposure as a potential modifier of asthma severity.
The impact of micro- and nanoplastics on human pulmonary health; an umbrella review
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An umbrella review of 15 systematic reviews finds consistent evidence linking micro- and nanoplastic inhalation to a spectrum of respiratory harm—from airway inflammation and alveolar damage to COPD exacerbation and pulmonary fibrosis—with nanoplastics penetrating deepest and urban residents, workers, and children facing the highest exposure burden.
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A systematic scoping review of 68 studies found that inhaled micro- and nanoplastics are detected in human lung tissue and associated with pulmonary inflammation, fibrosis, and impaired lung function, though most evidence comes from occupational settings and in vitro experiments.
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Researchers exposed healthy young adults to traffic-related air at three different locations and measured changes in their white blood cell counts. They found that exposure to airborne micro- and nanoplastics from tire wear was significantly associated with increases in total and differential white blood cell counts, indicating an immune response. The study provides some of the first evidence in humans that short-term exposure to traffic-related plastic particles in the air can trigger measurable changes in the immune system.
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