A new study revealed the presence of microplastics in human blood samples, shedding light on the potential health implications of these ubiquitous particles. Researchers analyzed blood samples from 20 healthy volunteers and found a variety of microplastic particles in 90% of the samples.

The study, published in the journal Environmental International, used μFTIR spectroscopy to identify and characterize the microplastics present in the blood. The researchers discovered 24 different polymer types, with polyethylene (32%), ethylene propylene diene monomer (14%), and ethylene–vinyl acetate/ethylene vinyl alcohol (12%) being the most abundant. The concentrations of plastics in the blood samples ranged from 1.84 to 4.65 μg/mL.

Using the LOQ (limit of quantification) approach, microplastics were detected in 40% (8 out of 20) of the donor blood samples, with a mean value of 2465.85 ± 4173.51 MP/L. The estimated maximum concentration of microplastics in a blood sample was 4.65 μg/mL for polyethylene, 1.84 μg/mL for ethylene–vinyl acetate/ethylene vinyl alcohol, 2.22 μg/mL for ethylene propylene diene monomer, 1.84 μg/mL for polyamide, and 0.61 μg/mL for ethylene–vinyl acetate.

The microplastic particles identified in the blood samples by researchers had a mean length of 127.99 ± 293.26 µm (7–3000 µm) and a mean width of 57.88 ± 88.89 µm (5–800 µm). The majority of the particles were categorized as fragments (88%) and were white or clear in appearance (79%).

The combined procedural blank samples contained an average of 4.80 ± 5.59 microplastic particles per sample, with 7 different polymer types identified. The number of microplastic particles found in the blood samples was significantly higher (p = 0.007) than in the procedural blanks.

In addition to the microplastic particles, the study identified several commonly used microplastic additives in the blood samples, including four different types of phthalates, which were detected in 20% (4/20) of the samples at a concentration of 988 ± 2868 particles/L. Researchers also detected various plastic additive chemicals, including endocrine-disrupting phthalates, in the samples.

The authors declared having no competing interests.