articleEnvironment InternationalMay 13, 2024GOLD OA

Microplastics in human blood: Polymer types, concentrations and characterisation using μFTIR

SVSophie V. L. LeonardCRCatriona R. LiddleCACharlotte A. AtherallECEmma ChapmanMBMatthew B. Watkins

University of Hull · Hull York Medical School · +1 more institution

PubMed
Indexed incrossrefdoajpubmed

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) are an everyday part of life, and are now ubiquitous in the environment. Crucially, MPs have not just been found within the environment, but also within human bodies, including the blood. We aimed to provide novel information on the range of MP polymer types present, as well as their size and shape characteristics, in human whole blood from 20 healthy volunteers. Twenty-four polymer types were identified from 18 out of 20 (90 %) donors and quantified in blood, with the majority observed for the first time. Using an LOQ approach, five polymer types met the threshold with a lower mean ± SD of 2466 ± 4174 MP/L. The concentrations of plastics analysed in blood samples ranged from 1.84 - 4.65…

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210
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100%
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65
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Authors

7

Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Microplastics
  • Polymer
  • Human blood
  • Polyethylene
  • Polystyrene
  • Chemistry
  • Chromatography
  • Environmental chemistry
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