Causal relationship between micro- and nanoplastics and lung function

The study quantified micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) exposure in young adults by analyzing whole-blood samples using pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (1). Lung function—specifically forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) and forced vital capacity (FVC)—was assessed through standardized spirometry following international recommendations as previously done in the PIAMA cohort (2). For the statistical models, the minimally sufficient adjustment set included age, sex, height, and weight at the time of blood collection. The fully adjusted models additionally accounted for recent respiratory infections within the preceding three weeks (yes/no), the participant’s educational attainment (higher vocational education or university, yes/no), parental educational attainment (at least one parent with higher vocational education or university, yes/no), and active smoking (>1×/week, yes/no). Participant educational attainment and parental educational attainment are included together in the DAG to represent socioeconomic position (SEP). 1. Shao K, Zou R, Zhang Z, Mandemaker LDB, Timbie S, Smith RD, et al. Advancements in Assays for Micro- and Nanoplastic Detection: Paving the Way for Biomonitoring and Exposomics Studies. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2025;65(1):567-85. 2. Milanzi EB, Koppelman GH, Smit HA, Wijga AH, Oldenwening M, Vonk JM, et al. Air pollution exposure and lung function until age 16 years: the PIAMA birth cohort study. European Respiratory Journal. 2018;52(3). Abbreviations: MNPs, Micro- and nanoplastics; SEP, Socioeconomic Position