How Microplastics Enter the Human Body
Microplastics are everywhere—air, water, and food. Whether you drink from a plastic bottle, microwave leftovers in a plastic container, or breathe indoor air, you’re likely ingesting microplastic particles daily. A study conducted in 2024 revealed that global microplastic consumption has increased sixfold since 1990, raising alarm over its long-term consequences.
Researchers at Imperial College London recently carried out the first human challenge trial to trace how microplastics behave in our bloodstream. Volunteers drank microplastic-laced tea and microwaved fluids to mimic real-life exposure scenarios. Scientists then tracked absorption over ten hours to determine how many particles reached the bloodstream. The findings, expected later this year, may reshape how we view plastic in everyday life.
Where Microplastics Are Found in the Body—and Why It Matters
Microplastics have been discovered in virtually every major organ: lungs, liver, kidneys, bloodstream, and even the brain. Recent studies from the University of New Mexico found that patients diagnosed with dementia had up to 10 times more plastic particles in their brains compared to those without. Researchers believe this might be due to microplastics hijacking the brain’s metabolic pathways, especially where the blood-brain barrier is impaired.
Meanwhile, scientists in Italy identified plastic particles embedded in arterial plaques, linking them to increased risks of strokes and heart attacks. Others found traces in skeletal muscle and bone tissue, raising concerns over mobility and chronic inflammation. Evidence also suggests that nanoplastics—smaller than 1 micrometer—might penetrate cells directly, potentially altering DNA and disrupting organ function.
Explore more on World Health Organization’s environmental health page for related research.
Emerging Health Risks and Future Outlook
While no single study has proven a direct causal link between microplastics and chronic illnesses, growing evidence suggests they may act as a compounding health stressor. Scientists like Dr. Raffaele Marfella from University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli suspect that long-term exposure may accelerate aging, trigger chronic inflammation, and impact cardiovascular and immune functions.
Other studies, including those led by Fay Couceiro at the University of Portsmouth, are looking into how these plastics worsen respiratory diseases like asthma. By testing air samples in homes and analyzing patient mucus, researchers are trying to link airborne plastics to asthma flare-ups and explore safer alternatives for hospital equipment.
As the evidence mounts, researchers emphasize the need for regulatory policies and innovation in plastic production. The conversation has already begun about safer materials and limiting plastic use in sensitive environments like healthcare.
