An emerging role of microplastics in the etiology of lung ground glass nodules

Abstract

Pulmonary ground glass nodules (GGNs) have been increasingly identified in past decades and is becoming an important clinical dilemma in oncology. Meanwhile, humans persistently inhale microplastics which are dominant in the air. However, the retention of “non-self” microplastics in human lung and its correlation with pulmonary GGNs remains elusive. In this study, we firstly demonstrated the presence of microfibers and microplastics in human lung, with higher detection rates in GGNs in comparison to those in normal tissue. Moreover, both types and colors of microfibers in tumor were richer than those in normal tissues. Intriguingly, high risk of microfibers exposure predisposes the formation of pulmonary GGN. Further, increased roughness surface was observed in microfibers isolated in human lung, indicating the possible link of surface roughness to the formation of pulmonary GGN. Collectively, our findings reveal an emerging role of environmental microplastics exposure in the etiology of pulmonary GGN.One Sentence SummaryThe exposure of environmental microplastics is a risk factor of pulmonary GGN.

Multiple primary lung cancer: Updates of clinical management and genomic features

“…In addition, a previous study reported that lung cancer survivors were more vulnerable to subsequent pulmonary malignancies (32). In 2021, Chen et al first demonstrated that microplastic exposure was associated with the etiology of multiple pulmonary GGOs (ground-glass nodules) (33), linking MPLC pathogenesis to environmental factors. Genetic variants, such as EGFR germline mutations, were also reported to be the driving force of MPLC (15,34).…”

Microplastics exposure and immunologic response

“…These findings reinforce the damaging effects of MPs in cigarette butts. 64 Although the cigarette filter has been understood as a barrier that aims to eliminate toxins, thus reducing damage, it is currently known that it does not offer health benefits to smokers. Cigarette filters are composed of more than 15,000 fiber strands which can be put into a microfiber size range (microfiber/MP) or eventually get fragmented into smaller sizes.…”