Microplastics Found in Human Organs, Study Suggests Potential Health Risks
A new study published by Italian scientists has found microplastics — tiny particles of plastic — in the plaque of arteries of over half of patients undergoing surgery in March. The discovery has sent shockwaves through the scientific community, highlighting the potential health risks associated with microplastic exposure.
The study revealed that nearly three years after the initial examination, patients with microplastics were significantly more likely to have suffered a stroke, a heart attack, or death from any cause. However, critics have questioned the validity of the study due to concerns over contamination and detection techniques.
"Good research does take time," says Professor Roel Vermeulen, who coordinates an EU research programme on microplastics. "We're only just beginning to understand the impact of microplastics on human health."
The presence of microplastics has become ubiquitous in the environment, mainly caused by the degradation of larger products like food packaging and clothes. Researchers have found fragments of plastics in human organs, including the lung and heart.
However, the study's findings are not without controversy. Scientist Stephanie Wright cautions that exposure levels to microplastics remain a mystery, making it difficult to understand the health implications of laboratory studies.
"Wright emphasizes two key points: first, that the increasing production of plastics is environmentally unsustainable; and second, that other forms of particle pollution — including air pollution and plastic-associated chemicals — have been linked to health impacts."
As the field studying microplastics' health impact is less than a decade old, many politicians, regulators, companies, and the public are relying on relatively narrow scientific basis. Researchers, such as Wright's team, are working hard to identify direct biological links between microplastic exposure and health effects.
Vermeulen and his colleagues are examining the placentas of hundreds of pregnant women for micro- and nano-plastics in an attempt to find correlations with birth outcomes and child development. The study is not expected to be completed before 2026.
While individual action can have a limited impact, many believe regulators must step in to take a precautionary approach. The EU has already banned companies from adding microplastics to products like cosmetics, but more action is needed to curb the use of plastics and reduce their devastating environmental impact.
"This is all kinds of reasons why we should act now," says Vermeulen. "We're running out of time."