Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

First evidence of microplastics isolated in European citizens’ lower airway

Researchers provided the first evidence of microplastics in the lower airways of living European adults, using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 44 patients. Nearly all detected particles were microfibers averaging about 1.7 millimeters in length, with an average concentration of roughly 9 items per 100 milliliters of fluid. The findings confirm that microplastics reach deep into the human respiratory system, though the health implications require further investigation.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 198 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of Microplastics in Human Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid: Preliminary Evidence of Respiratory Exposure to Environmental Contaminants

Researchers analyzed bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from eight adult patients undergoing diagnostic bronchoscopy and detected microplastics in the samples using microscopy, providing preliminary direct evidence that airborne microplastics deposit in the human respiratory tract.

2025 Cureus
Article Tier 2

Presence of microplastics in human’s respiratory system: bronchoalveolar and bronchial lavage fluid

Researchers analyzed bronchial and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients undergoing bronchoscopy and confirmed the presence of microplastics in the human respiratory system. They characterized the types, sizes, and quantities of microplastic particles found at different levels of the airways. The study provides direct evidence that microplastics deposit within human lungs and suggests that respiratory exposure is a meaningful route of human microplastic intake.

2025 Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering 1 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

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

Isolation and characterization of microplastics from the human respiratory system: Sputum, broncho-alveolar lavage fluid, and pleural fluid simultaneously

In the first study of its kind in Iran, researchers found microplastics in every sample collected from the human respiratory system, including sputum, lung fluid, and the fluid surrounding the lungs. Polyester fibers were the most common type detected, and people with occupational exposure or smoking habits had higher amounts, confirming that we regularly breathe in microplastics that reach deep into our lungs.

2024 Environmental Pollution 29 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

Nanoplastics in the Human Respiratory System

This research paper reports on the detection and characterization of nanoplastics in the human respiratory system, published in a leading pulmonary medicine journal. The study adds to growing evidence that extremely small plastic particles are present in human lungs. The findings underscore the importance of understanding inhalation as a key route of human exposure to plastic pollution.

2024 American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Bronchoalveolar Lavage as a Diagnostic Window into Human Exposure to Microplastics and Associated Lung Changes

Bronchoalveolar lavage analysis revealed microplastics in the lower respiratory tract of human patients and showed associated inflammatory changes, providing direct evidence of pulmonary microplastic exposure and supporting the need for occupational and environmental health monitoring.

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

Microplastics in Human Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid

Researchers developed a method to detect microplastics in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, a less invasive sampling technique than surgical lung biopsy, to assess human respiratory exposure. Using fluorescence microscopy and Raman spectroscopy, they identified and characterized microplastic particles in lung wash samples from patients undergoing bronchoscopy. The study suggests that lavage fluid analysis could become a practical tool for monitoring microplastic exposure in human lungs.

2025 American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of microplastics in human nasal mucosa

Microplastic particles were detected for the first time in human nasal mucosa samples, with polymer types and concentrations quantified, providing direct evidence that the upper respiratory tract is a site of microplastic deposition from inhaled air.

2024 Laryngo-Rhino-Otologie
Article Tier 2

Assessment of background plastics contamination from human respiratory tract sample collection vessels

Researchers found that disposable plastic collection vessels used in bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial aspiration procedures can contaminate respiratory tract samples with microplastic particles, highlighting the need for blank controls and low-plastic equipment in human inhalation studies.

2023 Water Emerging Contaminants & Nanoplastics
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

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

Airborne microplastics: Consequences to human health?

Researchers reviewed existing evidence on airborne microplastics and their potential effects on human respiratory health. Studies of workers exposed to plastic fibers and particles have documented airway inflammation and breathing difficulties, suggesting that susceptible individuals may face health risks even from environmental concentrations. The paper calls for greater awareness and future research into the health consequences of inhaling microplastic particles.

2017 Environmental Pollution 1580 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

A systematic review of the effects of airborne microplastic contamination on human lungs

This systematic review summarizes research showing that airborne microplastics have a negative effect on human lungs. Humans are estimated to inhale roughly 100,000 fine plastic particles every day, and the evidence suggests this exposure contributes to respiratory health problems, underscoring the need for policies to reduce plastic pollution in the air we breathe.

2024 African Journal of Reproductive Health 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Airborne Microplastics on Induced Sputum of Urban Dwellers: the Role of Environmental and Occupational Factors

Researchers analyzed induced sputum samples from 25 patients with respiratory diseases and found microplastics present in all samples, with concentrations ranging from 6 to 500 particles per 100 mL. Active smokers and workers in occupations with high plastic exposure had significantly higher microplastic concentrations. The study suggests that airborne microplastic inhalation is widespread among urban residents and may be influenced by both lifestyle and occupational factors.

2024 WIT transactions on ecology and the environment 3 citations