Py-GC–MS Quantification of Blood Micro- and Nanoplastics and Their Association with Immune Activation

Micro- and nanoplastics are an increasing health concern because they can enter the body when we breathe them in or swallow them. However, it is still unclear whether this exposure can trigger inflammation in the immune system or affect how well the lungs work. Researchers estimating exposure to micro- and nanoplastics in young adults in their investigation of associations with immune activation and lung function quantified micro- and nanoplastic concentrations in blood were quantified with pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS). A paper based on their work was published in Microplastics and Nanoplastics.¹

Why Are Micro- and Nanoplastics Considered a Health Concern?

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic 5 millimeters or smaller; nanoplastics are even smaller particles, less than 1 micrometer in size. These particles are made of plastic materials and can also contain chemicals that were either added on purpose or ended up in the plastic during its production.² The immune system responds to these foreign particles when they enter the body.^3,4 Like other exogenous elements, such as air pollution, these particles may cause the immune system to react by triggering inflammation.⁵In addition, there have been recent studies reporting the presence of microplastics in lung tissue.^6-9

How Are Micro- and Nanoplastics in the Body Associated with Immune Response and Respiratory Health?

This research involved 100 subjects from a long-term Dutch health study to see whether micro- and nanoplastics in the body are linked to immune system activity and lung function. They measured plastic levels in samples from all participants and checked immune cell markers and breathing function using standard clinical tests. They found that everyone had detectable amounts of micro- and nanoplastics. Higher levels were linked to signs of increased immune cell activity, suggesting a possible inflammatory response. However, they did not find any link between plastic levels and lung function.¹

The researchers noted several limitations in their study that should be considered when interpreting the results. First, measuring micro- and nanoplastics is still a developing field, so only a limited number of markers were used, which may not fully represent all types of plastics or their true biological differences. The study also treated all plastics as equally weighted, even though some may have stronger health effects than others, and it could not separate the effects of the particles themselves from associated chemicals. Because the data were collected at a single point in time, the study can show associations but not cause-and-effect relationships. In addition, limited knowledge about other influencing factors meant some assumptions had to be made. Finally, the relatively small and specific study group—mainly healthy, well-educated young adults from the Netherlands—limits how widely the findings can be applied.¹

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References

1. Durkin, A. M.; Skrabanja, T. L. P.; Gehring, U. et al. Micro- and Nanoplastic Exposure, Immune Cell Activation, and Lung Function in Young Adults. Microplast Nanoplast. 2026, 6 (1), 39. DOI: 10.1186/s43591-026-00189-2
2. International Organization for Standardization. Plastics — Environmental aspects — State of knowledge and methodologies. International Organization for Standardization website 2020. https://isor-sozialverein.de/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/ia_0818.pdf
3. Lu, K.; Lai, K. P.; Stoeger, T. et al. Detrimental Effects of Microplastic Exposure on Normal and Asthmatic Pulmonary Physiology. J Hazard Mater. 2021, 416, 126069. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126069
4. Yang, W.; Jannatun, N.; Zeng, Y. et al. Impacts of Microplastics on Immunity. Front Toxicol. 2022, 4, 956885. DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.956885
5. Glencross, D. A.; Ho, T. R.; Camiña, N. et al. Air Pollution and its Effects on the Immune System. Free Radic Biol Med. 2020, 151, 56-68. DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.01.179
6. Jenner, L. C.; Rotchell, J. M.; Bennett, R. T. et al. Detection of Microplastics in Human Lung Tissue Using μFTIR Spectroscopy. Sci Total Environ. 2022, 831, 154907. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154907
7. Amato-Lourenço, L. F.; Carvalho-Oliveira, R.; Júnior, G. R. et al. Presence of Airborne Microplastics in Human Lung Tissue. J Hazard Mater. 2021, 416, 126124. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126124
8. Wang, S.; Lu, W.; Cao, Q. et al. Microplastics in the Lung Tissues Associated with Blood Test Index. Toxics 2023, 11 (9), 759. DOI: 10.3390/toxics11090759
9. Zhu, L.; Kang, Y.; Ma, M. et al. Tissue Accumulation of Microplastics and Potential Health Risks in Human. Sci Total Environ. 2024, 915, 170004. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170004