Microplastics (MP) are plastic particles 1 µm – 5 mm in size. Nanoplastics (NP) are below 1 µm. Until recently they were discussed only in the context of water and the ocean. Since 2019 they have been detected in the air (Allen et al., Nature 2019) [1], in human lungs (2022), in the placenta (2021), in blood (2022), and in 2024 the first findings in brain tissue appeared. This is a new category of pollution about which much is still unknown.
Microplastics have been found in lungs, placenta, blood — a reality of the 2020s. Photo: Oregon State University, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).
Where they come from
1. Synthetic clothing. Fibers released during wearing and washing. 60-80% of today”s textiles are polyester, nylon, acrylic. A single wash releases up to 700 thousand fibers into wastewater and some into the air.
2. Car tires. Tires contain ~28% plastic. Abrasion during driving produces 8-15 kg of tire wear per car over 10 years. Much of it ends up in fine PM particles, settles on roads, and re-suspends into the air.
3. Building materials. Insulation, paints, adhesives, sealants — break down over time.
4. Packaging, films, bags. UV degradation on the surface leads to fragmentation.
5. Industrial pellet losses. Raw plastic pellets lost during transport and handling.
Concentrations
Urban air:
- Paris (Allen 2019): 110 MP/m²/day; 75-600 MP/m³ airborne.
- London (Wright 2020): 771 MP/m²/day — highest documented urban deposition.
- Kyiv, Dnipro (our 2023 estimate): 50-300 MP/m³ in central districts — close to European urban baseline.
Remote areas:
- French Pyrenees (nature reserve, 1400 m): ~365 MP/m²/day — long-range atmospheric transport.
- Arctic ice: tens of MP per liter.
- High-altitude clouds (China, 2023): confirmed MP presence.
Conclusion: microplastics are a global pollutant with no remaining “clean” territories.
In the human body
2022 — lungs (Jenner et al., Sci Total Environ). MP found in 11 of 13 live patients (biopsy samples). Predominantly polypropylene and PET.
2021 — placenta (Ragusa et al., Environ Int). MP detected in 4 of 6 examined placentas. Particles cross to the fetus.
2022 — blood (Leslie et al., Environ Int). MP found in 17 of 22 blood donors. Average concentration ~1.6 µg/mL.
2024 — brain (Campen et al., Nat Med). First detection of microplastics in human brain tissue. Notably, 2024 samples contain several times more MP than 2016 samples from the same tissue bank — the trend is rising.
Plastic types most commonly detected
- Polyethylene (PE) — bags, packaging.
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) — bottles, textile.
- Polystyrene (PS) — food packaging.
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) — pipes, windows, flooring.
- Polyamides (nylon) — clothing, ropes.
What they do in the body
Direct effects (proven in vitro and in animal models):
Inflammation. MP in lungs activate macrophages releasing IL-6, TNF-α. Chronic exposure — fibrosis.
Oxidative stress. Reactive oxygen species damaging DNA and membranes.
Fibre toxicity. Some fiber shapes act by mechanisms similar to asbestos.
Vector for other toxicants. MP adsorb hydrophobic pollutants (PAHs, pesticides, heavy metals) and deliver them into cells like a Trojan horse.
Potential (evidence insufficient):
- Endocrine disruption through plastic additives (BPA, phthalates).
- Long-term carcinogenesis.
- Neurological effects via blood-brain barrier penetration.
Most data come from cell culture and animal studies. Human epidemiology is still scarce.
How serious is this today
A typical urban dweller inhales ~20 MP particles per hour. Cumulative dose — micrograms per year. Small in mass compared to PM2.5.
The concern isn”t mass but long-term accumulation. Plastic doesn”t break down in the body the way organic particles do. It persists for decades.
WHO 2022 position paper: “Current evidence is insufficient for quantitative risk assessment. The precautionary principle calls for preventive action.”
What to do
Personal level:
- Clothing. More cotton, linen, wool, silk. Less polyester. Wash bags for synthetics that capture fibers (Guppyfriend, Cora Ball).
- Food. Fresh over packaged. Don”t heat food in plastic containers in the microwave. Drink filtered water rather than bottled (ironically, bottled water often has more MP).
- Cleaning. Wet mopping over dry sweeping. HEPA vacuum — captures microplastic fibers from carpet and upholstery dust.
- Lifestyle. Less single-use plastic overall — reduces both personal exposure and environmental contribution.
Policy:
EU Single-Use Plastics Directive (2019, mandatory from 2021). Ukraine is harmonizing — Law “On Restricting Plastic Bag Circulation” (2022, in force since 2023). Next phase — restrictions on intentionally added microplastics in cosmetics and detergents (EU REACH 2023, phased implementation to 2027).
Microplastics and the 2022-2025 war
A distinct factor for Ukraine. Combustion of plastic-containing infrastructure during shelling and fires generates much higher airborne microplastic concentrations than in peacetime. Destroyed buildings contain tons of plastic insulation, windows, piping that turn into fine particulates. Vehicle fires release tire and interior plastics.
Systematic microplastic measurements after Ukrainian shelling events do not exist yet. This is a gap that should be closed in post-war monitoring.
Our monitoring
YourAirTest doesn”t measure microplastics directly — standardized airborne MP methods are still limited. But we model particle dispersion from fires (FLEXPART, CALPUFF), which includes the microplastic fraction in smoke. We collaborate with research groups developing direct monitoring methods.
FAQ
Can microplastics be found in me?
Yes, with very high probability (>95%). In blood — detected in 70-85% of donors; in lungs — in the majority of city residents.
Will I get sick from microplastics?
No direct cause of death or acute illness is established. They are one contributor to chronic inflammation, which together with other factors raises risk of cardiovascular, oncological, and metabolic diseases.
Should I worry more about them than PM2.5?
No. PM2.5 has an order of magnitude more health evidence and a larger overall mortality contribution. Microplastics are a new front to monitor, but not a reason to lose focus on the main risks.
References
Allen S et al. (2019) Atmospheric transport and deposition of microplastics in a remote mountain catchment. Nat Geosci 12:339-344.
Ragusa A et al. (2021) Plasticenta: First evidence of microplastics in human placenta. Environ Int 146:106274.
Leslie HA et al. (2022) Discovery and quantification of plastic particle pollution in human blood. Environ Int 163:107199.
Jenner LC et al. (2022) Detection of microplastics in human lung tissue using FTIR spectroscopy. Sci Total Environ 831:154907.
Campen M et al. (2024) Microplastics in the human brain. Nat Med, early online.