Main findings from the European study
- Microplastics appeared in 70% of all 100 tested patient lung samples.
- In lung-wash samples, microplastics were detected in 66% of lung cancer patients compared to 46% of patients without cancer.
- A total of 232 microplastic particles were identified across all collected samples.
- Patients diagnosed with lung cancer carried a higher overall microplastic burden than those without cancer.
- Polypropylene and polyethylene were the primary plastic compounds identified in the lung tissue and airspaces.
| Finding | Plain-English meaning |
|---|---|
| 66% of lung cancer patients had microplastics in lung wash versus 46% without cancer | Two out of three people with lung cancer had tiny plastic fragments floating in their airway fluid, compared to under half of those without cancer. |
| 70% overall prevalence across 100 tested individuals | Seven out of ten patients examined for lung symptoms carried microscopic plastic in their respiratory system. |
| Inverse distribution between lung wash and tissue samples | Plastic particles collected in airspace fluid were lower when tissue biopsies showed higher plastic, showing plastics do not spread evenly across the lung. |
Inside the University Hospital of Larissa study
New research presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Barcelona, Spain, reveals that individuals diagnosed with lung cancer carry a higher burden of microplastics in their lungs than individuals without the disease.
The study was led by Dr. Ilias Dimeas, a doctor associated with the University College Dublin School of Medicine in Ireland and the University of Thessaly in Greece. The clinical research took place at the University Hospital of Larissa in Thessaly, Greece, focusing on a cohort of 100 patients undergoing medical evaluation for persistent respiratory symptoms.
Following thorough clinical investigation, 50 of these patients received a diagnosis of lung cancer, while the remaining 50 patients did not have cancer. To search for synthetic particles, physicians performed a bronchoscopy on each participant. A bronchoscopy involves passing a thin, flexible tube equipped with a small camera down the airway to inspect the bronchial passages and gather physical specimens.
Researchers gathered two distinct sample types during these procedures. Every patient provided a bronchoalveolar lavage, or lung-wash sample. This involves flushing a targeted section of the respiratory tract with a saline solution to collect free-floating cells and suspended particles from the airspaces. In addition, exactly half of the cohort (50 patients) underwent a tissue biopsy, which yields a physical sample of lung tissue capable of revealing particles embedded directly inside the organ structure.
Detailed laboratory analysis of all specimens recovered a total of 232 microplastic particles. Overall, 70% of the 100 participants had detectable microplastics in either their lung wash, their tissue biopsy, or both.
The data behind plastic accumulation in airways
When looking at the combined analysis of lung wash and tissue samples, patients diagnosed with lung cancer demonstrated both a higher probability of harbouring microplastics and a larger overall quantity of particles.
| Measurement Parameter | Study Value |
|---|---|
| Total Study Cohort | 100 patients |
| Lung Cancer Subgroup | 50 patients |
| Non-Cancer Subgroup | 50 patients |
| Total Microplastic Particles Identified | 232 particles |
| Overall Microplastic Prevalence | 70% of patients |
| Microplastic Detection in Cancer Lung Wash | 66% of patients |
| Microplastic Detection in Non-Cancer Lung Wash | 46% of patients |
| Tissue Biopsy Sample Size | 50 patients |
The analysis of lung-wash samples alone showed a distinct gap between the two groups. Microplastics appeared in 66% of lung-wash samples from lung cancer patients, compared to 46% of lung-wash samples from non-cancer patients. Lung cancer patients also registered a higher numerical volume of plastics within these fluid washes.
The diagnostic data revealed an unusual spatial distribution. When investigators compared fluid wash samples and tissue biopsies taken from the exact same patient, they discovered an inverse pattern. Individuals who showed higher plastic particle counts in their airway washes tended to show lower concentrations embedded in their solid tissue samples, and vice versa.
Because lung washes collect floating material from open airspaces while biopsies harvest embedded particles, this inverse relationship indicates that microplastics do not distribute uniformly throughout the human respiratory tract. Different areas of the lung appear to trap, hold, or filter synthetic fibers in different ways. Chemical testing identified polypropylene and polyethylene as the predominant synthetic compounds present in the samples.
Why ambient plastic intake matters for human health
Polypropylene and polyethylene are the two most widely manufactured plastics on Earth. They are everyday components in food packaging, synthetic clothing fibers, carpet materials, and single-use containers. As these products break down, microscopic fragments enter the ambient air, making inhalation an everyday occurrence.
This study introduces direct anatomical proof that airborne microplastics cross into the human body and settle deep within internal lung structures.
The research arrives against a backdrop of severe global disease impact. Lung cancer remains the single most prevalent cancer diagnosis across the globe and stands as the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Annual statistics account for roughly 2.5 million new lung cancer diagnoses and 1.8 million deaths each year.
Tobacco smoking remains the primary cause of lung malignancies. Air pollution is also an established risk factor for lung cancer, while contributing heavily to chronic conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The discovery of synthetic particles inside human airspaces suggests that inhaled microplastics might represent an unrecognized environmental factor in pulmonary health.
How to interpret these early findings
These findings demonstrate an association between microplastic burden and lung cancer, but the study design cannot prove that microplastics cause cancer.
Correlational clinical data cut both ways. One possibility is that microplastics trigger localized inflammatory reactions or biological cellular changes that actively contribute to disease formation.
Another equally plausible explanation involves altered lung mechanics. Diseased or cancerous lung tissue may simply have damaged clearance mechanisms, causing damaged lungs to retain inhaled dust and microplastics that healthy tissue would normally clear out.
Research into human microplastic accumulation remains in its early stages. Science has not yet established what baseline background plastic levels look like in completely healthy populations, nor do experts know how much plastic clearance varies from person to person under normal circumstances.
Ongoing investigations and next steps
The research group led by Dr. Dimeas has initiated laboratory follow-up experiments to observe how polypropylene and polyethylene particles interact directly with human lung cells at a molecular level.
Simultaneously, the team is examining lung samples from individuals with non-cancerous chronic pulmonary conditions. This work aims to determine whether synthetic particle retention influences tissue scarring, inflammation, or general disease progression over time.
Commenting on the presentation, Professor Barbara Hoffmann, Chair of the European Respiratory Society’s Advocacy Council and a researcher at the University of Dusseldorf, noted that while research on human microplastics is in its infancy, the physical evidence confirms that inhaled plastics lodge inside human organs. Hoffmann emphasized that the ERS is leveraging these findings to support public advocacy for clean air standards that protect human lungs from airborne plastic contamination.
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Sources:
- News-Medical, “Researchers find greater microplastic burden in lung cancer patients” (https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260904/Researchers-find-greater-microplastic-burden-in-lung-cancer-patients.aspx)
- ecancer, “Patients diagnosed with lung cancer found to have more microplastic in their lungs” (https://ecancer.org/en/news/28834-patients-diagnosed-with-lung-cancer-found-to-have-more-microplastic-in-their-lungs)
- MDPI, “Health Risks from Microplastics in Intravenous (IV) Infusions” (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12298248/)
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider about any medical condition or before making health decisions.