Microplastics could be present in the air you breathe without your awareness
They are in the oceans, in food… and also floating in the air we breathe. Microplastics, invisible to the naked eye, have become a silent threat to lung health. A French study has managed to measure them more accurately than ever, discovering alarming figures and pointing out everyday spaces — such as the inside of a car — where their concentration is up to four times higher than in our own homes.
Microplastics: an invisible and persistent enemy
Until now, measurements focused on particles larger than 20 micrometers, ignoring the smaller and more harmful ones. These, known as PM₁₀, bypass the body’s defense mechanisms and can reach .
The new study, led by researcher Nadiia Yakovenko and published in PLOS ONE, used Raman spectroscopy, capable of detecting particles as small as one micrometer. This advancement has revealed that we inhale microplastics in much higher quantities than previously believed.
Microplastics vary in size, from microscopic nanoparticles to a few millimeters.
There are two types:
Primary: Manufactured particles used in cosmetics, clothing, etc.
Secondary: Decomposed particles from larger plastics.
They penetrate us…
The car: an unexpected focus of plastic pollution
Measurements show that an apartment contains an average of 528 particles of . However, inside a car, the figure soars to 2,238. The culprit: the large amount of synthetic materials —dashboards, carpets, upholstery— in a confined and often poorly ventilated space.
Entering, starting, and driving without refreshing the air creates the perfect scenario to inhale thousands of particles in a few minutes.
1. Brain: Neuroinflammation and cognitive deterioration when crossing the blood-brain barrier.
2. Heart: Risk up to 4.5 times higher for heart attacks and strokes.
3. Lungs: Chronic inflammation, impaired lung function, and scarring from fibers…
Alarming figures and health risks
Combining their data with previous studies, the team concludes that an adult breathes around 68,000 particles smaller than 10 micrometers daily. These not only reach the alveoli but can also cross the alveolocapillary barrier and reach the bloodstream.
Potential effects include tissue damage, inflammation, oxidative stress, and COPD. In addition, microplastics can carry heavy metals and pollutants that disrupt hormonal functions and worsen other health problems.
