Detection of microplastics in human lung tissue using μFTIR spectroscopy

Jenner, Lauren C.; Rotchell, Jeanette M.; Bennett, Robert T.; Cowen, Michael E.; Tentzeris, Vasileios; Sadofsky, Laura R.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154907

Cited by 670 publications

(281 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Some data is emerging to suggest MP is inhaled into the lung, through the analysis of lung tissue digestates ( 27 , 29 ). Most of the MP observed in these studies are relatively large compared to what is expected (i.e., a median size of 10 μm or below).…”

Section: Microplastic Inhalation Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

Applying Existing Particle Paradigms to Inhaled Microplastic Particles

Wright

Borm²

2022

Front. Public Health

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Ambient particulate pollution originating from plastic contaminates air, including indoor and urban environments. The recent discovery of ambient microplastic (MP) particles of a size capable of depositing in the thoracic region of the airway, if inhaled, has raised concern for public exposure and health impacts following lessons learned from other particle domains. Current microplastic exposure estimates are relatively low compared to total ambient particulate matter, but optimal analytical techniques and therefore data for risk and health impact assessments are lacking. In the absence of such an evidence base, this paper explores paradigms, metrics and dose-response curves developed in other particle domains as a starting point for predicting whether microplastic are of concern. Bio-persistence, presence of reactive sites and soluble toxicants are likely key properties in microplastic toxicity, but these are not measured in environmental studies and hence are challenging to interpret in exposure. Data from a MP inhalation study in rats is available but the study was conducted using conditions that do not replicate the known human health effects of PM2.5 or surrogate exposures: compromised, aged animal models are recommended to investigate potential parallels between MPs and PM2.5. One of these parallels is provided by tire wear particles (TWP), which form part of current ambient PM and are sometimes regarded as microplastic. A connection to epidemiological studies where PM filters are still available is recommended and consequently analytical advances are required. In summary, established particle domains and existing paradigms provide valuable insight and data that can be used to predict MP toxicity, and direct study design and key properties to consider in this emerging field.

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Section: Microplastic Inhalation Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

Applying Existing Particle Paradigms to Inhaled Microplastic Particles

Wright

Borm²

2022

Front. Public Health

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“…Moreover, ingestion is not the only means of exposure to microplastics for humans. They can also be affected by airborne microplastics through inhalation (Dris et al, 2017;Roblin et al, 2020), to the point that microplastics have been found in human lung tissue (Amato-Lourenço et al, 2021;Jenner et al, 2022). Even though the intensity of the exposure to microplastics is not well known and the risks that microplastics pose to human health are not yet well understood, it has been ascertained that the presence of microplastics in the human body increases the incidence of severe diseases (Prata, 2018;Wright & Kelly, 2017).…”

Section: Impacts Of Microplastics Pollutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tackling Marine Microplastics Pollution: an Overview of Existing Solutions

Fiore

Garofalo

Migliavacca

et al. 2022

Water Air Soil Pollut

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Microplastics pollution is one of the main environmental challenges of our time, even though microplastics were observed for the first time almost 50 years ago. Microplastics—little plastic fragments smaller than 5 mm in size—are released from bigger plastic objects during their use, maintenance, or disposal. As their release is uncontrolled and mostly uncontrollable, microplastics end up in the environment and are easily transported across the world, polluting nearly every ecosystem, especially the aquatic ones. Hence, microplastics represent a huge menace for many living species: they are ingested unintentionally by smaller animals and transferred along the food chain up to human beings, even threatening our health. It is therefore vital to take action against microplastics and many technologies have been designed in recent years with this purpose in mind. This paper provides an overview of the main solutions developed thus far to reduce further microplastic emissions and to collect those already released.

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“…Once entered into aquatic and terrestrial environments, FMPs impact their physicochemical characteristics [16] and interact in several ways with the biota, inducing health issues such as neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, oxidative damage, and even death [2,16,17]. Additionally, the transfer of FMPs from the atmosphere to aquatic and terrestrial environments represents a probable pathway to humans [17], and FMPs have already been found in human stool [18] and human lung tissues [19]. For this reason, developing innovative strategies to decrease the quantities of FMPs released into the atmosphere is a key aspect of the overall framework for reducing MP pollution.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Practical Valorization Approach for Mitigating Textile Fibrous Microplastics in the Environment: Collection of Textile-Processing Waste Microfibers and Direct Reuse in Green Thermal-Insulating and Mechanical-Performing Composite Construction Materials

et al. 2022

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Microplastic (MP) contamination is an urgent environmental issue to address. Fibrous microplastics (FMPs) are the principal MP type in the air and have already been found in human stool and lung tissues. FMPs are generated from the lifecycle of synthetic and blended textiles and are expected to increase due to fast fashion. Among textile processes, the finishing of fabrics is estimated to generate 5000 t/year of textile waste fibers in Italy, including FMPs. To limit FMPs spread, this paper suggests, for the first time, the direct collection of blended finishing textile waste microfibers and reuse in designing thermal-insulating and mechanical-performing fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (FRCs). The microfibers were thoroughly characterized (size, morphology, composition, and density), and their use in FRCs was additionally evaluated by considering water absorption and release capacity. Untreated, water-saturated, and NaOH-treated microfibers were considered in FRCs up to 4 wt%. Up to a +320% maximum bending load, +715% toughness, −80% linear shrinkage, and double-insulating power of Portland cement were observed by increasing microfiber contents. NaOH-treated and water-saturated microfibers better enhanced toughness and linear shrinkage reduction. Therefore, green and performant composite construction materials were obtained, allowing for the mitigation of more than 4 kg FMPs per ton of cement paste. This is a great result considering the FMP contamination (i.e., 2–8 kg/day fallout in Paris), and that FRCs are promising and shortly-widely used construction materials.

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Detection of microplastics in human lung tissue using μFTIR spectroscopy

Cited by 670 publications

References 40 publications

Applying Existing Particle Paradigms to Inhaled Microplastic Particles

Applying Existing Particle Paradigms to Inhaled Microplastic Particles

Tackling Marine Microplastics Pollution: an Overview of Existing Solutions

A Practical Valorization Approach for Mitigating Textile Fibrous Microplastics in the Environment: Collection of Textile-Processing Waste Microfibers and Direct Reuse in Green Thermal-Insulating and Mechanical-Performing Composite Construction Materials

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