- Scientists have been concerned about possible harm from microplastics for many years.
- In a new study, researchers developed a method of detecting microplastics in human blood.
- The scientists found microparticles of four common plastics in blood samples from 17 out of 22 healthy adults.
- Further research could determine whether microplastics in the blood will impact health.
Plastics are everywhere. Although, in theory, much of it can be recycled, a lot of it ends up in landfills, or worse, in watercourses and marine ecosystems.
Many people are too familiar with distressing images of turtles and dolphins trapped in plastic bags or fishing nets. But there is a less visible effect — microplastic , tiny plastic particles formed when plastics break down and during commercial product manufacturing.
Several studies have found evidence of plastics in the human body. One revelation came after scientists detected plastic additives such as bisphenol A and phthalates Trusted source in human urine. Researchers have also found microplastics in human feces trusted. However, until now, no published study has directly examined Trusted source the effect of these tiny plastic specks on human health.
In a new study published in the journal Environment International, researchers in the Netherlands developed a method of analyzing human blood to detect microplastics. They then used this method to analyze blood from 22 healthy volunteers.
Tiny Plastic Particles
Microplastics are specks of plastic. they are less than 5mm in any dimension, but many are invisible to the naked eye. There are two types of microplastics: primary microplastics and secondary microplastics. The former are the particles used in some cosmetics, and the latter comes from the breakdown products of larger plastic items.
Much concern about microplastics has previously focused on their effect on the marine environment as they are found in oceans worldwide. Many marine organisms, such as fish and shellfish, have been found to contain microplastic Trusted source….ReadMore