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Inhaled microplastic particles can remain in the lungs for at least 14 days and cause inflammation associated with allergies, a new study in mice has found.
Almost ubiquitous, small plastic particles less than 5 mm in size pose a threat to the environment and public health, with exposure linked to cancer, heart attacks, and reproductive problems.
Early studies have shown that microplastic particles can cause inflammation, DNA damage, cellular aging, and hormonal disorders in tissues where they accumulate.
However, little is still known about their effects on the immune system.
A new study has evaluated the effects of microparticles from PET, one of the most widely used plastics in the world, on mice.
Stack flattened plastic bottles in bales for recycling. (Getty Images)
Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna found that after a single dose of PET microplastics, tiny particles were detectable in the lungs for at least 14 days.
Their presence in the lungs was also accompanied by inflammation and an increased presence of lymphocytes and eosinophils, immune cells involved in allergic reactions.
“Inhaled PET microplastics induce airway inflammation in a dose-dependent manner,” the scientists said. Journal of Hazardous Materials Progress.
“PET microplastics were detectable in the lungs for 14 days and induced airway inflammation with lymphocyte and eosinophil recruitment,” the researchers wrote.
Combining it with ragweed pollen, a commonly inhaled allergen, worsens inflammation, the study warned.
Scientists have found that PET particles exacerbate inflammation and affect the body’s defense response to allergens.
“Our study shows that PET microplastics do not simply persist in the body, but actively influence the immune response involved in the development and exacerbation of allergic reactions and inflammation,” said study author Michel Epstein from the Medical University of Vienna.
According to the researchers, this study provides important insight into the potential immunological effects of microplastics.
Currently, reported levels of PET in the air amount to approximately 135 to 158 nanograms per cubic meter of urban air.
According to the researchers, assuming that an adult inhales about 10 to 20 cubic meters of air each day, this could be equivalent to inhaling about 1 to 3 micrograms of microplastics.
“Taken together, these findings confirm that PET MPs are biologically active particles that alter airway inflammation and immune responses in a dose- and context-dependent manner,” the researchers wrote.
Although the results were obtained in a mouse model and may not be directly applicable to humans, the scientists hope that further studies will examine the health and environmental burden of microplastics.
“These findings support the inclusion of immune endpoints while highlighting the need for careful extrapolation to real-world exposure scenarios,” the researchers wrote.
“In summary, PET microplastics persist in the lungs, induce airway inflammation, and modulate immune responses depending on dose, timing, and context,” the researchers concluded.
