Microplastics found in human blood for the first time

In a new study, scientists detected microplastic particles in human blood in 80% of the people tested.

The problem of microplastics is not new. The rise in plastic production from 1950 to the present is the catalyst that has led to worldwide plastic pollution. In the 1950s, the global production of plastic was 1.5 million metric tons; however, by 2020, global production reached 367 million metric tons. There are many reasons why plastic production has exponentially increased, such as its ease of manufacture and versatility, but the issue remains that only 9% is recycled. So, when plastic is not recycled, it sits in landfills and eventually breaks down into microplastics which can easily erode rivers, oceans, soil, and even the air.

Back in 1972, scientists discovered small plastic particles in the Sargasso Sea, a part of the Atlantic Ocean with no land boundaries. This was a significant finding because it meant that plastic waste from the land had traveled to the middle of the ocean. Ever since then, plastic pollution in the oceans has become more and more common. More recently, researchers found that microplastics exist in our atmosphere. In particular, a study found atmospheric deposition of microplastics over London. These discoveries are significant because they demonstrate how pervasive plastic has become in our world. Ever since 1972, microplastics have been found in fish, shellfish, sugar, salt, and beer; which ultimately results in human consumption. In a study done in 2019, humans were estimated to consume between 39,000 to 52,000 plastic particles a year. This has led scientists to already detect small amounts of microplastics in human stool samples.

However, in late March of this year, researchers published a study where the blood samples of 22 anonymous donors, all in good health, were collected. The results showed that 17 of the blood samples contained microplastics, and half of them had PET, which is plastic used for water bottles. The effects of this are still relatively unknown because there is no research that shows the effects microplastics have on organs and other bodily functions. Nonetheless, what we do know comes from smaller, in vitro studies where scientists have found that microplastics may affect a cell’s normal function because they can destabilize the lipid membrane, and perhaps even cause cell death.

Unfortunately, solutions to the microplastic problem are not exactly 100% effective. One of the solutions moving forward includes mass cleanups in our oceans, beaches, rivers, and land to prevent further plastic from breaking down and turning into microplastics. Along with these cleanups, a drastic decrease in the amount of plastic we produce and use, as well as better recycling programs to help stop plastic pollution. However, these solutions would help prevent further microplastics from infiltrating us and our ecosystems, but the microplastics that are currently all over the world are nearly impossible to clean up.