Study: Microplastics Found in Higher Concentrations in Lung Cancer Patients

A study has found that microplastics are present in human lungs, with higher concentrations observed in patients suffering from lung cancer. These findings were presented during a meeting of the European Respiratory Society in Barcelona, Spain.

Researchers discovered that approximately 66 per cent of lung cancer patients had detectable microplastics in fluid samples taken from their lungs. In contrast, microplastics were detected in 46 per cent of individuals without lung cancer.

“Our results show that inhaled microplastics can be found in human lungs more frequently than many people may realise,” said Dr Ilias Dimeas, a researcher and pulmonologist from the University College Dublin School of Medicine, as reported by US News on Thursday.

According to Dimeas, these findings add to the evidence that reducing plastic pollution in the environment can benefit not only ecosystems but also human health. Microplastics themselves can be inhaled through the air and subsequently settle deep within the lungs.

However, researchers emphasised that much remains unknown regarding the consequences of these particles entering the human body. “We do not yet know the safe levels of microplastics in the lungs, how much variation exists between individuals, or whether these substances contribute to disease,” he stated.

The most common types of plastic found in the lungs during the study were polypropylene and polyethylene. Both are widely used in various everyday products, such as packaging, textiles, household items, and consumer goods.

In the study, the Dimeas team recruited 100 patients undergoing bronchoscopy to investigate lung symptoms at the University Hospital of Larissa, Greece. Bronchoscopy is a procedure involving the insertion of a thin, flexible tube into the lungs, allowing doctors to examine the interior of the lungs and collect samples.

Patients also underwent a lung lavage procedure, in which a saline solution is used to rinse specific parts of the lungs. Of the 100 patients studied, 50 were subsequently diagnosed with lung cancer.