Microplastics were detected in human blood for first time

AMSTERDAM: PET plastic, which is commonly used to produce drink bottles, was found in half of the blood samples.

For the first time, researchers have found microplastics in human blood, raising the alarm that the omnipresent particles may be making their way into organs. From the deepest waters to the highest mountains, as well as in the air, soil, and food chain, small bits of mostly invisible plastic have already been discovered.

Nearly 80 per cent of blood samples from 22 healthy participants were found to contain microplastics, according to a study published in the journal Environment International. PET plastic, commonly used in beverage bottles, was found in half of the samples, while polystyrene, a common ingredient in single-use food containers and other products, was found in over a third.

From the deepest waters to the highest mountains, as well as in the air, soil, and food chain, small bits of mostly invisible plastic have already been discovered. The microplastics could have entered the human body in a variety of ways, including through air, water, food, and items like tubes of toothpaste, lip glosses, and tattoo ink, according to the study.

For this study, funding came from the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development and Common Seas, an environmental nonprofit in the UK.