It has been known for long that we humans get microplastics in our bodies through food, water and various types of plastic objects. Exactly how these microplastics move in our bodies and in the long run affect us has, however, been unclear. But now researchers have made a new discovery.
For the first time ever, researchers have found microplastics in human blood. In a small study with 22 participants published in the journal Environment International, it was found that as many as 80% of the test subjects showed traces of microplastic. All participants were adult, healthy blood donors.
What happens to the microplastics in the blood requires more studies to know, says Dick Vethaak, professor of ecotoxology at Amsterdam's Free University.
The booklets of the blood samples contained PET plastic, which is the material plastic bottles are made of. One third contained polystyrene which is used to make packaging.
