Microplastics are invading nearly every cavity in the human body as scientists have detected the tiny particles in semen, breast milk and even brain tissue.
Researchers have long known about the pieces of plastic in the environment, but it was not until recently did they develop a technique to see them in our organs, tissue and blood.
Microplastics, which are smaller than five millimeters in length, enter our bodies through plastic packaging, certain food, tap water and even the air we breathe.
From there they enter our bloodstream and cause untold harm. They have been linked to the development of cancer, heart disease and dementia, as well as fertility problems.
Previous research has shown that, on average, people ingest about five grams of plastic every week, the equivalent of a credit card – and these particles are accumulating in certain organs, tissues and even in the blood
Microplastics have gained much attention due to their prevalence and abundance in our everyday lives.
They have also been found in nearly every part of the world – the deepest place on the planet, the Mariana Trench to the top of Mount Everest.
Countless studies have also detected the tiny particles in household items such as sugar, salt, honey, seafood, tap water, water bottles, and food items wrapped in plastic.
Previous research has shown that, on average, people ingest about five grams of plastic every week, the equivalent of a credit card, said Dianna Cohen, CEO of the nonprofit Plastic Pollution Coalition.
Once ingested, these tiny particles can travel to internal organs such as the kidney and liver and cause adverse effects on the cellular level.
Countless studies have also detected the tiny particles in household items such as sugar, salt (pictured), honey, seafood, tap water, water bottles, and food items wrapped in plastic
Brain
Researchers at Vassar College, in Upstate New York, joined an Austrian team to research whether the toxins — found in everything from food packaging to plastic water bottles — could cross the blood-brain barrier of mice.
Once the plastics reach the brain, they can cause inflammation and interfere with neurons’ processes, according to the 2023 study.
Lukas Kenner from MedUni Vienna said: ‘In the brain, plastic particles could increase the risk of inflammation, neurological disorders or even neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.’
The team found polystyrene particles, which are used in foam food packaging, showed up in the brain just two hours after ingestion.
Another study conducted in the same year analyzed 15 brain tissue samples, uncovering six plastic pieces from two patients who had tumors.
Semen
A majority of the particles in the testis were polystyrene (PS, 68%) while polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were the predominant types in semen
Scientists from Peking University Third Hospital in Beijing detected microplastics in human semen last year.
The team collected 30 semen and six testis samples from patients, finding 11 semen and four testis samples had tiny particles.
A majority of the particles in the testis were polystyrene (PS, 68 percent) while polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were the predominant types in semen.
Polyethylene is used in packaging and polyvinyl chloride can be found in everything from drainage pipes to window frames and automotive seat coverings.
Researchers involved with the study suggested the decline in sperm count could be due to microplastic exposure.
Heart
Microplastics, which are smaller than five millimeters in length, enter our bodies through plastic packaging, tap water and even the air we breathe
The tiny particles were found in the heart for the first time in 2023 by a team from the Beijing Anzhen Hospital in China who collected heart tissue and blood samples from 15 patients undergoing heart surgery.
Microplastics were found in all of the blood samples and the heart tissue.
In the blood, the plastics can latch onto the outer membrane of red blood cells and may impact their ability to transport oxygen.
Nine different plastics were found in five types of heart tissue.
Microscopic particles of poly(methyl methacrylate) — a plastic commonly used as a shatter-resistant alternative to glass — were found in three different parts of the heart, which the researchers said ‘cannot be attributed to accidental exposure during surgery’.
Other plastics found included polyethylene terephthalate, used in clothing and food containers and PVC
Tens to thousands of individual microplastic pieces were discovered, but the amounts varied between patients.
Breast milk
In 2022, scientists made a startling discovery when they found microplastics in human breast milk for the first time.
A team at Italy’s Marche Polytechnic University analyzed milk samples from 34 healthy mothers, finding microscopic plastic particles were detected in three-quarters of them.
The milk samples containing plastic each had between one and five microparticles.
The particles came from PVC, polyethylene and polypropylene, all common plastics in materials ranging from plastic bottles and packaging, to synthetic leather, floor tiles and furniture coverings.
Kidney, spleen and liver
In 2020, researchers set out to see if microplastics could be found in the human body after the particles were found across the globe.
A team at Arizona State University found the first evidence when they analyzed 47 tissue samples, revealing many of the particles accumulated in the liver, spleen and kidneys.
Senior researcher Rolf Halden said: ‘We have detected these chemicals of plastics in every single organ that we have investigated.’
Placenta
These light microscope images show microplastics in samples from human placentas. The bottom row is illuminated with a UV light to show just how much plastic is left in the sample, even after the tissue has been processed
Microplastics were found in human placentas last month after a team at the University of New Mexico tested 62 women’s placentas, finding every one contained small plastic pieces less than five millimeters long.
The particles ranged in size from 6.5 to 790 micrograms, with an average concentration of 128.6 micrograms for every gram of donated placenta.
The most common plastics found in the samples were those used in plastic bags and bottles, making up 54 percent, while materials used in construction and nylon accounted for 10 percent – and the rest were nine other plastics.
Lungs
Researchers from the University of Hull and Hull York Medical School detected microplastics in live human lungs for the first time in 2022.
The findings were the first to prove that we are breathing the particles in from the air.
The study found 39 microplastics in 11 of the 13 lung tissue samples tested – considerably higher than any previous laboratory tests.
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
