A research team has identified microplastics all the way to the lower parts of our lungs.
« Almost all of the world’s population (99%) breathe air that exceeds WHO air quality limits and threatens their health “, warned the United Nations in a report published on April 4, 2022. Fine particle pollution is an environmental problem, but also a public health issue: we can inhale them.
In the July 2022 edition of Science of the Total Environmentresearchers reveal that they have identified, within our lung tissue, microplastics — i.e. fine particles resulting from the degradation of plastic objects. Although it is not the first time, the residues have, this time, been identified in the deepest regions of the lungs.
This work shows the presence of 39 microplastic residues in 11 of the 13 samples studied – and taken from living people during routine surgical operations. This is a relatively large proportion.
” It is surprising “
The particularity of this study is to have identified microplastics in the lower parts of the lung. According to the main author, Laura Sadofsky, it is very surprising to find plastic particles so far away: ” This is surprising, as the airways are smaller in the lower parts of the lungs, and we would have expected particles of this size to be filtered or trapped before entering the lungs so deeply. »
This discovery also allows characterization of the types of microplastics that have found their way into lung tissue, furthering research into fine particulate exposure and potential health impacts. Laura Sadofsky and her team identified 12 types of microplastics among the particles found. Among them, the most notable are:
- the polyethylenefrom packaging or bags, but also from bottles;
- the nylonfrom clothing;
- The resinsfrom roads, paint markings, rubbers;
- And other types of materials used for example during certain manufacturing processes.
« This data is an important advance in the field of air pollution, microplastics and human health », estimates Laura Sadofsky.
These are works that come just weeks following microplastics were first detected in human blood — a level of 1.6 micrograms of plastic material for each milliliter of blood in the samples tested. The particles identified came from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), from clothing and bottles; or even styrene polymers, from vehicle parts, carpets, food containers.
