Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastic particles in human blood and their association with coagulation markers

In a study of 36 healthy adults, microplastics were detected in the blood of 89% of participants, with polypropylene and polyethylene being the most common types found. Higher microplastic levels were associated with changes in blood clotting markers, suggesting that plastic particles in our bloodstream may affect how our blood coagulates, though larger studies are needed to confirm this link.

2024 Scientific Reports 72 citations
Article Tier 2

Presence of airborne microplastics in human lung tissue

Researchers examined human lung tissue from autopsies and found microplastic particles and fibers in 13 out of 20 samples. The most common plastics were polyethylene and polypropylene, with particles smaller than 5.5 micrometers. This study provides direct evidence that inhaled microplastics accumulate in human lungs, raising concerns about potential long-term effects on respiratory health.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1155 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics inhalation: evidence in human lung tissue

Microplastic particles were found in human lung tissue samples collected during surgery, confirming that people inhale and retain microplastics in pulmonary tissue, with polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate among the polymers identified, raising concerns about chronic respiratory and inflammatory effects.

2021 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Human Tissues: Sources, Distribution, Toxicological Effects, and Health Implications

Researchers reviewed the growing body of evidence that microplastics accumulate in human tissues — including lung, blood, placenta, breast milk, and heart tissue — where they can trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death. The review highlights urgent knowledge gaps around how plastic particles move through the body and what their long-term health effects may be.

2025 International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science
Article Tier 2

Tissue accumulation of microplastics and potential health risks in human

Researchers analyzed human tissues and found microplastics in every sample tested, with lungs containing the highest concentration at about 14 particles per gram, followed by the small intestine, large intestine, and tonsils. PVC was the most common plastic type found, and women had significantly more microplastic particles than men, raising concerns about long-term health effects.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 199 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection and Analysis of Microplastics in Human Sputum

Researchers analyzed sputum (mucus from the lungs) from 22 patients with respiratory diseases and found microplastics in every single sample, identifying 21 different plastic types. Polyurethane was the most common type detected, and most particles were smaller than 500 micrometers. This study provides direct evidence that humans are inhaling microplastics, with factors like smoking and medical procedures increasing the amount found in the respiratory tract.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 494 citations
Article Tier 2

Multimodal detection and analysis of microplastics in human thrombi from multiple anatomically distinct sites

This study used multiple detection methods to find and analyze microplastics in blood clots (thrombi) collected from different locations in the human body. The detection of microplastics within blood clots from various anatomical sites suggests that plastic particles may play a role in clot formation. This research adds to mounting evidence linking microplastic presence in the cardiovascular system to potential heart and stroke risks.

2024 EBioMedicine 100 citations
Article Tier 2

Tracing Microplastics in the Human Body: From Detection to Disease Mechanisms

This review traces the detection of microplastics across multiple human tissues — from nasal lavage and bronchoalveolar fluid to blood and lung tissue — and examines the disease mechanisms linking plastic particle accumulation to respiratory, cardiovascular, and other systemic health effects.

2025 Diagnostics
Article Tier 2

Temporal Trend in Accumulation of Microplastics in Decedent Human Lungs

Researchers compared lung tissue samples from people who died in 1991 and 2024 and found that microplastic presence increased from 19% to 77% of individuals over that period, with the number of particles per gram of tissue also rising significantly. The polymer composition shifted from predominantly polyethylene to a more diverse mix including PET and PVC, and lung samples containing microplastics showed greater signs of inflammation and fibrosis.

2026 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

Tissue-specific distribution of microplastics in human blood and carotid plaques: A paired sample analysis

In a study of 20 patients undergoing surgery for clogged neck arteries, researchers found microplastics in both blood and artery plaque samples from every patient. The plaques contained nearly six times more microplastics than blood, suggesting that plastics accumulate in damaged blood vessels. Some types of microplastics were linked to changes in cholesterol levels, raising questions about whether plastic particles could worsen heart disease.

2025 Environment International 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Microplastic Content in Human Circulatory System and Its Potential Impacts on Systemic Health

Researchers detected microplastics in blood samples from 76% of 50 healthy adults using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, with an average concentration of about 3 particles per milliliter. PET and polypropylene were the most common polymer types found, and the study discusses potential systemic health implications of circulating microplastics in the human body.

2026 Science Get Journal.
Article Tier 2

Quantitation of micro and nanoplastics in human blood by pyrolysis-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Researchers developed and validated an improved method using pyrolysis-gas chromatography to measure specific plastic polymer types in human blood, detecting plastics in 64 out of 68 blood samples tested with a mean concentration of 268 nanograms per milliliter. Polyethylene was the most common polymer found, underscoring that microplastic and nanoplastic particles are already circulating inside the human body.

2024 Microplastics and Nanoplastics 77 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of microplastics in human lung tissue using μFTIR spectroscopy

Researchers analyzed lung tissue from 13 people and found microplastics in 11 of the samples, identifying 12 different plastic types including polypropylene and polyester. The particles were found in all regions of the lungs, with significantly higher concentrations in the lower lung. This is one of the first studies to directly confirm that microplastics from everyday environments can be inhaled and accumulate deep in human lung tissue.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 1264 citations
Article Tier 2

Deposition of microplastics associated with bioaccumulation of heavy metals in human lungs of smokers: Implications of adsorption and mobilization of metals via microplastics

Researchers compared lung tissue from smokers and non-smokers and found that smokers accumulated more microplastics alongside elevated levels of heavy metals in lung tissue, suggesting that tobacco smoke enhances chelation of heavy metals to airborne microplastics, increasing lung bioaccumulation.

2025
Article Tier 2

An emerging role of microplastics in the etiology of lung ground glass nodules

Researchers analyzed 100 human lung tissue samples and identified microplastics embedded in the tissue, with a higher detection rate in tumor samples compared to normal tissue. The abundance of microplastics in lung tissue appeared to increase with age, and the particles seemed to be physically embedded in the tissue rather than simply resting on the surface. The study provides direct evidence linking microplastic accumulation in lungs to ground glass nodules, an increasingly common finding on chest scans.

2022 Environmental Sciences Europe 173 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Unveiling the presence of micro and nanoplastics in human biological matrices: A systematic review covering the latest five years from 2020 to 2025

This systematic review covering 2020-2025 confirmed the presence of micro- and nanoplastics in human blood, placenta, lungs, liver, kidneys, and other biological matrices. The findings demonstrate that plastic particles are accumulating in human tissues through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact, raising urgent questions about long-term health consequences.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 1 citations
Article Tier 2

New Evidence of Microplastics in the Lower Respiratory Tract: Inhalation through Smoking

Researchers collected lung fluid samples from smokers and nonsmokers and found that smokers had significantly higher concentrations of microplastics in their lower respiratory tract. A laboratory smoking simulation confirmed that cigarette smoke itself carries microplastic particles, including polyurethane and silicone. The study identifies smoking as a previously unrecognized route of microplastic inhalation, adding to the known health concerns associated with tobacco use.

2023 Environmental Science & Technology 77 citations
Article Tier 2

Human Exposure to Airborne Microplastics: A Study on Detection and Potential Health Effects Using BAL Fluid

This study detected inhaled microplastics in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from the lower respiratory tract of human patients and found associations between microplastic presence and markers of lung inflammation and impaired lung function.

2025 Journal of Pharmacy And Bioallied Sciences
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Human Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid

Researchers developed a new method for detecting microplastics in fluid washed from human lungs (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) and found plastic particles present in every patient tested. They also applied Nile Red staining for the first time to visualize plastics in lung samples, which proved effective for screening and counting particles. The findings provide direct evidence that microplastics are present in the human respiratory system, with a potential link to lung inflammation.

2025 Respirology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Air pollution and its impacts on health: Focus on microplastics and nanoplastics

This review summarizes how airborne micro- and nanoplastics enter the body through breathing, eating, and skin contact, contributing to health risks alongside traditional air pollutants. Plastic particles have been found in human blood, vein tissues, and lungs, and their presence in fine particulate matter in urban air may worsen the inflammation, oxidative stress, and respiratory and heart disease risks already associated with air pollution.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 17 citations