Microplastics and fibres were detected in human lung tissue samples
In short: Researchers examining human lung tissue obtained during autopsies found evidence of airborne microplastics. The study identified various plastic fragments and fibres within 13 of the 20 tissue samples analyzed, highlighting the presence of these common pollutants in the respiratory system.
The study observed polymeric particles and fibres in human lung tissue, specifically finding polyethylene and polypropylene as the most frequent polymers. While these findings confirm that microplastics can reach the lungs, the study's small sample size of 20 tissues means the results may not represent the general population.
The researchers analyzed 20 lung tissue samples from autopsies, identifying 33 polymeric particles and 4 fibres.
Why it matters: The study confirms that microplastics from the air can be found within human lung tissue.
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Sources
- Source: Research: Amatolourenco et al. (2021). Presence of airborne microplastics in human lung tissue. Journal of Hazardous Materials. · cc-by-nc-nd
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