Micro Plastics polluting our Earth are now found in our blood.

This week, Environmental International published an article outlining research that found microplastics in the blood of 17 out of 22 participants (about 77%). Micro plastics are not a new concept to us, these particles of plastics have been found everywhere from Mount Everest to baby poop. However, this is the first time that we have actually found microplastics in the human blood stream. This is clearly an environmental problem that is already beginning to effect the health of people on our planet. The effects of this new find are still largely unknown.

Defining Microplastics

Microplastics are defined as,

”Small pieces of plastic, less than 5 mm (0.2 inch) in length, that occur in the environment as a consequence of plastic pollution. Microplastics are present in a variety of products, from cosmetics to synthetic clothing to plastic bags and bottles. Many of these products readily enter the environment in wastes.”

There are two types of microplastics: primary microplastics and secondary microplastics. The former are the particles used in some cosmetics, and the latter comes from the breakdown products of larger plastic items.

In this recent study, they tested for five different types of plastics. Those five types were:

• polymethyl methacrylate

• polypropylene

• polystyrene

• polyethylene

• polyethylene terephthalate

The Effects of Microplastics

In past years, microplastics have become a pressing environmental issue for our Earth and our health. In 2019 studies came out finding microplastics in water and the World Health Organization published news at the time saying in summary, that these micro plastics were likely not a huge risk to health, but that more research was required to say so for sure. This week, with finding these very same microplastics in blood, the question around what effects this may have on health remain. There is simply not enough research to know for certain the effects at this time.

An article from Reuters said, ””According to Professor Dick Vethaak, an ecotoxicologist from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the effects of the plastic particles in the bloodstream are still unknown. “We still have to understand …what happens to these particles in our body?” Further research into the health risks of the plastic particles in the bloodstream could take between “five to ten years.”"

What comes next?

This triggers an important conversation around the plastics and products we are using as a society. In past years, this problem was seemingly only applicable to our oceans or landfills where a majority of plastics and microplastics were being found. With this new information, how might our usage and disposal methods change? Will we see policy changes around this topic?

Sources:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412022001258

https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/climate/impacts/microplastics-found-in-human-blood-for-the-first-time

https://www.britannica.com/technology/microplastic

https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/08/1044661

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/could-microplastics-in-human-blood-pose-a-health-risk