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Weathered microplastics in human blood: unraveling the effect of structural changes at the particle surface on coagulation and platelet activation
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Researchers exposed human whole blood to microplastics that had been artificially aged to simulate real environmental weathering, finding that weathered plastics like polystyrene, PVC, and PET triggered significantly stronger blood clotting and platelet activation than fresh plastic particles. The findings suggest that the longer plastic sits in the environment and degrades, the more dangerous it may become to human cardiovascular health.
Abstract Background Microplastics (MPs) from environmental sources have been detected in various human organs, including the circulatory system. The biological response to such MPs is usually tested under artificial conditions, restricting their relevance. Objectives Probing the influence of MPs with realistic properties concerning size, shape, weathering-induced polymer degradation, and concentration on the response of human whole blood. Methods This study examines the response of human whole blood to NPs of different cryomilled commodity polymers at a concentration range of 4 – 100 µg/ml, and mean size of about 25 µm, covering microplastic concentrations and size reported for organs and blood. Environmental degradation of the polymers was simulated through graded artificial weathering of the particles for 14 days in cyclic UV, temperature, and humidity changes, representing about 1.5 years of environmental weathering, and analyzed by Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and zeta potential measurement. Results Spectroscopic analysis of the bulk polymers indicated the degradation of aromatic polymers with the formation of carboxylic acid groups. Surface-sensitive zeta potential measurements also demonstrated a shift to more negative values of the polymers with aromatic groups. In contact with whole blood, these structural changes were associated with a pronounced coagulant response to the weathered polymers polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyvinylchloride (PVC) containing aromatic plasticizers, compared to the pristine ones. There was a primary correlation with the changes in surface properties observed in the zeta potential shift. In the case of PET, these surface- and biological effects did exceed the changes in the FTIR and Raman spectra. A dose-dependency to the particle count and the intensity of weathering was observed. Discussion These findings underscore the impact of environmental weathering of common MPs on their biological performance.
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Researchers exposed human platelets to nanoplastics and found direct activation of platelet aggregation and coagulation pathways at environmentally relevant concentrations. The results suggest that circulating microplastics and nanoplastics could act as acute triggers of thrombosis, with implications for cardiovascular disease risk.
Environmental weathering induces procoagulant structural changes in microplastics
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Scientists exposed common plastics (like those in bottles and packaging) to sun, heat, and humidity to mimic real-world weathering, then tested how the resulting tiny plastic fragments affected human blood. They found that weathered microplastics, especially those with certain chemical structures, triggered blood clotting reactions much more than fresh, unweathered plastic, even at levels similar to what's already been found circulating in people's bodies. This matters because it suggests that microplastics aren't just harmless debris passing through us, weathering in the environment may make them more likely to interfere with normal blood function once they enter our bloodstream.
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics), similar to those already detected in human blood, can quickly latch onto blood platelets, the cells responsible for clotting, and switch them into an "activated" state within minutes. This activation caused blood to form denser, thicker clots than normal, suggesting that everyday plastic exposure could potentially raise the risk of unwanted blood clots and cardiovascular problems. This was a lab study using blood samples, so more research is needed to confirm these effects happen in the body over time.
Environmental microplastic and nanoplastic: Exposure routes and effects on coagulation and the cardiovascular system
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