Scientists first discovered the presence of microplastics in human blood. A study published in the magazine Environment International and reported by Guardian details the presence of polymer particles in the bloodstream.
After analyzing samples from 22 adults, the scientists found traces of PET, polystyrene and polyethylene in the blood of 17 of them. Of all, PET was the most prominent, present in half of the cases. In some participants, up to three types of microplastic were detected in their body.
The study considered five high-volume polymers: polypropylene, polymerized styrene, polyethylene, polymethyl methacrylate and polyethylene terephthalate. The researchers based their methodology on previous work and considered particles in the range of 700 nanometers to 0.514 millimeters.
Research from Amsterdam’s Vrije University supports the hypothesis that human exposure to plastic particles results in their absorption into the bloodstream.
From toothpaste to tattoo ink
According to Professor Dick Vethaak, an ecotoxicologist at the Vrije University of Amsterdam, the study is the first indication of polymer particles in the blood.
Current results vary considerably between individuals, and there are other factors that may have played a role. It is possible that the donors were exposed to the microparticles before the test simply by drinking water or coffee from a plastic container.
It is also specified that the concentration of particles reported in the study is the sum of all potential exposure routes. Contact with microplastics can occur through mucous membranes (inhalation or ingestion), environmental contamination and, in some special cases, through dermal absorption if the skin is damaged.
The researchers mention personal care products such as toothpaste, which includes polyethylene, or the PET of lip gloss. The plastic is present in fragments of dental implants or in polymeric nanoparticles used in drugs for the central nervous system.
The tattoo ink residue are considered, since they contain acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. ABS is a polymer that is used in electronic and automotive components and the famous LEGO blocks. The study supports the hypothesis that human exposure to plastic particles results in their absorption into the bloodstream.
What are microplastics and why are they dangerous?
Microplastics are particles between 1 and 5 millimeters that result from the decomposition of waste, or from medicines and products that contain them. Because plastic does not biodegrade, disintegrates into tiny parts that are absorbed by humans, animals and other organisms.
The particles are present in the oceans, the air we breathe, and even in places we never imagined (such as fresh water from Antarctica). A study from the University of Alicante found microplastics in salt extracted from the salt mines of the Spanish coast. A high concentration of microparticles has also been detected in the sky over London, Paris and Hamburg.
Even though the impact of microplastics requires a thorough analysis, Vethaak warns of the danger we face. The academic mentioned that the particles can be transported to organs through the bloodstream.
An earlier study showed that microplastics such as polystyrene (and probably polypropylene) they can permeate placental tissue. Other research found that polystyrene microparticles they accumulate in the liver, kidneys, and intestine of some rodents and earthworms.