Surprising Discovery: Microplastics Found Deep in Living Lungs — Detected in 85% of Surgical Samples

Microplastics detected deep in the lungs of living patients

Researchers reported a surprising finding in April 2022: tiny fragments of plastic were recovered from the lung tissue of living patients undergoing surgery. A study published in Science of the Total Environment — and described in The Guardian — detected microplastics in 85% of surgical samples (11 of 13 patients). The most common particles matched materials used in single‑use bottles and plastic packaging.

“We did not expect to find the highest number of particles in the lower regions of the lungs, or particles of the sizes we found,” said Dr. Laura Sadofsky, the study’s senior author. The results were unexpected because airways narrow deep in the lungs and would ordinarily filter out many larger particles.

This work builds on earlier studies that also reported microplastics in lung tissue, although those earlier samples were taken at autopsy rather than from living patients. Together, these findings strengthen evidence that airborne plastics can reach deep into the respiratory system.

What we know — and what remains uncertain

Scientists are actively investigating how microplastics and even smaller nanoplastics affect human health. Early research and reviews have raised concerns — a 2022 analysis available via Springer identified microplastics and nanoplastics as "emerging contaminants" and recommended more detailed study of any carcinogenic potential. Publications such as The Lancet have highlighted possible links to immune system changes, metabolic effects, and abnormal organ development. However, current evidence does not yet establish definitive causal relationships or quantify risk for most health outcomes.

It is important to note the study’s small sample size (13 patients), which limits how broadly the results can be generalized. Larger, well‑controlled studies are needed to determine how common deep lung deposition is across populations, which particle sizes and types are most harmful, and the long‑term health consequences of inhaled micro- and nanoplastics.

Practical steps and policy implications

Researchers say continued investigation is essential to map exposure pathways, understand toxicology, and inform policy and public‑health guidance. In the meantime, both personal and systemic actions can reduce exposure and the environmental burden of plastics:

• Choose reusable products instead of single‑use plastics.
• Support brands that use plastic‑free or minimal packaging.
• Advocate for policies that reduce plastic production, improve waste management, and limit airborne microplastic pollution.

While scientists work to clarify the health implications, the detection of microplastics deep in living lungs highlights an emerging environmental health issue that merits attention from researchers, regulators, and the public.