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Pentair opens Eastern European hub in Moscow
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Despite the title suggesting an industrial news item, the abstract describes a study that detected microplastics in the feces of 95.8% of young Chinese men studied, with concentrations ranging from 1 to 36 particles per gram. The study provides early evidence that microplastics pass through the human gastrointestinal tract and are excreted in human waste.
Microplastics have been widely detected in the environment and marine organisms. However, few studies have investigated the presence of microplastics in humans. This preliminary study identified and quantified the microplastic content in human feces.A total of 26 young male students aged 18–25 years were recruited from Beijing, China. A self-administered 7-day 24-h fluid intake record was used to document fluid intake, and food intake was recorded for 3 days. Feces were collected by participants using a sterile fecal collector. Microplastics in the remaining fecal residues were measured and identified using fourier transform infrared micro-spectroscopy.Eventually, twenty-four participants completed the study. The fecal samples of 23 (95.8%) participants tested positive for microplastics. In these 23 samples, the abundance of microplastics varied from 1 particle/g to 36 particles/g (size 20 to 800 μm). The summed mass of all microplastic particles per participant ranged from 0.01 to 14.6 mg. Qualitative analysis of the microplastics indicated the presence of one to eight types of microplastics in each sample, with polypropylene (PP) being the most abundant; it was found in 95.8% of fecal samples. We examined associations between water intake habits and the abundance of microplastics in their feces. A moderate correlation was observed between packaged water and beverage intake and microplastic abundance in feces (r = 0.445, P = 0.029).Various types of microplastics were detected in human feces, with PP being found in the highest proportion. There may be an association between water intake habits and microplastic abundance in feces.
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You are what you eat: Microplastics in the feces of young men living in Beijing
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Researchers collected and analyzed fecal samples from 26 young men in Beijing to measure microplastic content. They found microplastics in all samples, with the amount correlating to the participants' consumption of packaged food and beverages, providing direct evidence that people are regularly ingesting microplastics through their diet.
Microplastics in the atmospheric of the eastern coast of China: different function areas reflecting various sources and transport
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Atmospheric sampling at two sites in a Chinese coastal city found microplastics suspended in the air at both downtown and industrial locations, but with different dominant sources — lifestyle and consumer products in the city center versus industrial activity in the industrial zone. The finding that microplastics are transported through the atmosphere confirms that people in urban areas are inhaling plastic particles regardless of proximity to industrial facilities.
Micro(nano)plastics in human urine: A surprising contrast between Chongqing's urban and rural regions
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Scientists detected micro- and nanoplastics in human urine samples from both urban and rural areas in China, with city dwellers showing higher levels and more types of plastic particles. The findings suggest that everyday habits like using plastic toys and personal care products contribute to the plastics found inside our bodies, and that people in urban environments face greater exposure.
Microplastics in the indoor air of subway station in Istanbul
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Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in the indoor air of a busy Istanbul subway station, finding deposited levels up to 865,714 MPs/m²/day and airborne levels up to 2.93 MPs/m³, with passengers estimated to inhale 0.24–0.30 particles per 15-minute platform wait. This highlights enclosed transit infrastructure as an overlooked human exposure route for airborne microplastic inhalation.
Microplastics in stools and their influencing factors among young adults from three cities in China: A multicenter cross-sectional study
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In a study of 78 college students across three Chinese cities, microplastics were detected in the stool of nearly every participant, with a median concentration of about 55 micrograms per gram. People who ate more takeout food had significantly higher microplastic levels in their stool. This is one of the first studies to measure the actual mass of microplastics passing through young adults' digestive systems, confirming that diet and food packaging directly influence human exposure.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.