THE ESSENTIAL
- The main functions of the lungs are to transfer oxygen from the air into the blood and to expel carbon dioxide from the blood into the air.
- Air enters through the mouth or nose and descends through the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles to the alveoli.
This is new data that could not be more worrying. For the first time, a team of scientists has discovered microplastics present in human lungs.
Lower parts of the lung
Their studypublished by the journal Science of the Total Environment, found the presence of 39 microplastics in 11 of 13 lung tissue samples tested.
Laura Sadofsky, Director of Research, explains: “Microplastics have been found in autopsies of human cadavers before. But this is the first solid study demonstrating the presence of microplastics in the lungs of living people.” She continues, surprised: “Our research also shows that they are in the lower parts of the lung. Because the airways of this organ are very narrow, no one thought these toxins could get there, but they do.”
Lung tissue removed during operations
The study was made possible thanks to the collaboration with surgeons at Castle Hill Hospital (Yorkshire), who provided the lung tissue taken during operations. Among the microplastics detected, there were 12 types, which are frequently found in packaging, bottles or clothing. Another lesson: the number of toxic substances was much higher in men than in women.
At the end of March, researchers had also found traces of microplastics in blood samples from healthy people. “This is proof that we have plastics in our bodies. Can it be eliminated? Evacuated? Can it pass the blood-brain barrier?”, wondered Dick Vethaak, an ecotoxicologist interviewed by AFP.