Microplastics found in the deepest section of the lungs

Researchers from the University of Hull and Hull York Medical School have discovered microplastics in live human lungs, showing that inhalation is a potential route of exposure. Synthetic fibres have previously been found in lung tissue, but there are limited studies confirming the presence of microplastics — and none believed to be as robust as this.

The new study was made possible thanks to a collaboration with surgeons at Castle Hill Hospital in East Yorkshire, who supplied the live lung tissue. This was collected from surgical procedures carried out on patients who were still alive, as part of their routine medical care. It was then filtered to see what was present, with the results published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.

The study found 39 microplastics in 11 of the 13 lung tissue samples tested — considerably higher than any previously published laboratory tests — with higher levels of microplastics in male patients compared to females. This included 11 microplastics in the upper part of the lung, seven in the mid part and 21 in the lower part.

“Microplastics have previously been found in human cadaver autopsy samples — this is the first robust study to show microplastics in lungs from live people,” said Laura Sadofsky, lead author on the study.

“We did not expect to find the highest number of particles in the lower regions of the lungs, or particles of the sizes we found. This is surprising as the airways are smaller in the lower parts of the lungs and we would have expected particles of these sizes to be filtered out or trapped before getting this deep into the lungs.”

With 12 different types of microplastics detected, which have many uses and are commonly found in packaging, bottles, clothing, rope/twine and manufacturing processes, the team’s findings will now help direct future studies on the impact microplastics could have on respiratory health.

“This data provides an important advance in the field of air pollution, microplastics and human health,” Sadofsky said.

“The characterisation of types and levels of microplastics we have found can now inform realistic conditions for laboratory exposure experiments with the aim of determining health impacts.”

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Pcess609

Please follow us and share on Twitter and Facebook. You can also subscribe for FREE to our weekly newsletters and bimonthly magazine.