When it comes to plastic pollution, one of the great mysteries is what kind of dangers tiny particles can pose to the health of living organisms. Scientists from Arizona State University (ASU) have turned to human tissue for answers, and to their surprise, every single sample they studied contained evidence of plastic fragments.
The ASU scientists claim it’s the first study to examine nano- and micro-plastic buildup in human tissues and organs. Such plastics are broken down so small, measuring less than 5 mm in size, with some as tiny as 0.001 mm, that it makes them extremely difficult to track through the environment.
Charles Rolsky, of the research team, said:
You can find plastics contaminating the environment at virtually every location on the globe, and in a few short decades, we’ve gone from seeing plastic as a wonderful benefit to considering it a threat. There’s evidence that plastic is making its way into our bodies, but very few studies have looked for it there. And at this point, we don’t know whether this plastic is just a nuisance or whether it represents a human health hazard.
The study comprised of 47 tissue samples taken from the liver, spleen, kidneys, and lungs. The ASU team believed these were the organs that would most likely encounter microplastics. They identified and extracted plastics from the tissue samples, produced data on the particle count, the mass and surface area of the fragments, by using a combination of μ-Raman spectrometry, mass spectrometry, and computer programming.
This technique allowed the ASU scientists to detect several different types of plastic, including polycarbonate, polyethylene, and Bisphenol A (BPA). Overall, the team found plastic contamination in all of the samples studied.
Varun Kelkar, an ASU team member, clarified:
We never want to be alarmist, but it is concerning that these non-biodegradable materials that are present everywhere can enter and accumulate in human tissues, and we don’t know the possible health effects. Once we get a better idea of what’s in the tissues, we can conduct epidemiological studies to assess human health outcomes. That way, we can start to understand the potential health risks, if any.
On August 17, the team presented its finding at the American Chemical Society Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting & Expo.
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