Scientists have, for the first time, discovered small plastic particles in human blood, raising concerns about their long-term health effects, according to British news site "Sky News." The source reported that Dutch scientists from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Amsterdam University Medical Center found that 17 out of 22 volunteers (77 percent) had “quantifiable” microplastic particles in their blood.
It added that the levels of plastic particles in the blood were low, averaging 1.6 micrograms (1.6 parts per million) per milliliter of blood. However, scientists say that the mere presence of plastic particles in the bloodstream is “worrying and extremely important,” emphasizing the need for more studies to determine their effects on human health. They mentioned that humans likely inhale or ingest these plastic particles before they reach the bloodstream.
Dr. Alice Horton, who studies "human pollutants" at the UK’s National Oceanography Centre, stated: "This is a concerning discovery, given that particles of this size and quantity have been shown in laboratory settings to cause inflammation and cell damage... The consequences of this are still unknown." Microplastic particles are widely present in the environment and can be found in marine organisms, drinking water, soil, and more.
