Scientists from Vrije University in the Netherlands managed to locate microplastic particles in the bloodstream, which can have toxic effects on cells.
Οi scientists from Vrije University in the Netherlands have recently shed light on the extent to which the problem of plastic pollution has taken hold, detecting microplastic particles in the bloodstream and analyzing their possible effects on the human body.
Plastic waste entering the environment is broken down into smaller fragments, the so-called microplastics, through the effect of natural forces such as ultraviolet light, wind, ocean currents. These tiny plastic particles, which come from bags, bottles and other objects, cause huge problems as they can be ingested by living organisms, and their course is also very difficult to monitor.
We have witnessed many times their effects on marine organisms, where they cause aneurysms (in fish) and cognitive impairment (in hermit crabs). Traces of plastic particles have also been found in human tissues and feces.
Based on the above observation, the research team behind the study under investigation investigated the possible presence of microplastics in human blood, testing it with a new method involving the use of a mass spectrometer. Samples from 22 healthy donors were analyzed, with three-quarters of the participants showing in their blood at least one of the five different polymeric and structural elements of the plastic material that the scientists were looking for.
The Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the polyethylene and styrene polymers were the most common forms of plastic that appeared in the samples. This element was the first proof that this material can actually be absorbed and circulated in human blood. According to this research, published in the scientific journal Environment International, their average concentration was equal to one teaspoon for every 1.000 liters of water.
The microplastic particles end up in the bloodstream most likely through contact with the mucous glands, due to ingestion, but also due to inhalation in case the suspended particles are between 1 nanometer and 20 micrometers. Their presence can have toxic effects on cells and change their shape. Studies in mice have shown that they can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and contribute to high cholesterol and heart disease.
The authors of this new study are trying to investigate how these particles further affect human health, looking at how they could move from the blood to tissues and organs, causing various damage. They also want to get a clear picture of how widespread plastic pollution is in the human body, to determine if exposure to plastic particles is a threat to public health.
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