Medical Bulletin 29/May/2025

Here are the top medical news for the day: 

Airborne Microplastics Pose Growing Health Risk, Urgent Action Needed: Study

A recent review in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety has raised alarms over the rising presence of airborne microplastics and nanoplastics in urban environments. These tiny plastic particles, originating from the breakdown of larger plastic items, are increasingly found in air, especially in cities like Zhengzhou and Guangzhou, and even in human tissues such as lungs, blood, and arteries.

The study highlights serious health concerns, including inflammation, oxidative stress, and links to cardiovascular and neurological diseases. Notably, microplastics have been found in carotid artery plaques and the brain’s olfactory bulb, with one study linking their presence to a fourfold increased risk of stroke, heart attack, or death.

“Inhaling microplastics isn't just a pollution problem-it's a public health emergency,” the authors emphasized, urging global action.

Indoor environments, especially those with synthetic textiles and carpets, showed higher concentrations than outdoors. On average, a person inhales around 69,000 microplastic particles annually.

Detection technologies such as FTIR and Raman spectroscopy have advanced, but the review calls for faster, standardized, and more affordable methods. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-based plastics are of particular concern due to their ability to adsorb pollutants like nitrogen dioxide, enhancing toxicity.

The study urges urgent mitigation steps: reducing plastic production, improving waste management, enforcing filtration standards, and investing in bioremediation technologies. Public awareness campaigns and school curricula are also vital to drive behavioral change.

Finally, the authors call for interdisciplinary collaboration and regulatory reforms to tackle this complex, invisible threat. Vulnerable populations like children and pregnant women face the highest risks, making long-term research a top priority.

Reference: Air pollution and its impacts on health: Focus on microplastics and nanoplastics. Wang, L., Lin, Y., Liu, W., Lee, Y., Chiu, H. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118402, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325007389

Milan Faces Measles Threat as Single Virus Lineage Drives New Outbreak: Study

Despite high vaccination rates, Milan is seeing a worrying resurgence of measles, driven by a single virus lineage. A recent study in Eurosurveillance reveals that 27 of the 32 confirmed measles cases in early 2025 were linked to genotype B3-suggesting sustained community transmission and a risk of re-establishing endemic spread.

Measles, a highly contagious yet preventable disease, has surged across parts of Europe in recent years. Northern Italy faced outbreaks in 2024 from multiple imported strains. However, this year marks a shift: a single B3 strain, genetically similar to one circulating in Morocco, is spreading locally among unvaccinated adults in Milan and nearby provinces.

"Despite 96% first-dose coverage, immunity gaps in adults-especially those never vaccinated-are creating a pathway for the virus to re-establish itself," researchers warned.

Genetic analysis of throat swabs and urine samples from suspected cases confirmed the dominance of this B3 lineage. Mapping revealed no direct link between most cases and international travel, indicating undetected local spread. The median age of patients was 36.5 years, with many requiring hospitalization—including two with severe pneumonia.

The virus has also spread in hospitals and workplaces, underlining the urgency of immunizing healthcare workers and young adults. Researchers stress the need for enhanced surveillance, better adult immunization, and swift outbreak response.

Reference: Fappani, C., Gori, M., Bianchi, S., Tieghi, L., Colzani, D., Senatore, S., Faccini, M., Pasutto, P., Imeri, L., Vezzosi, L., Castillo, D., Villa, S., Cereda, D., Gioacchini, S., Bucci, P., Fioravanti, R., D’Ugo, E., Baggieri, M., Magurano, F., & Amendola, A. (2025). From multiple measles genotype D8 introductions in 2024 to sustained B3 local transmission in and around Milan, northern Italy, from January to April 2025. Eurosurveillance, 30, 20. DOI:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.20.2500315, https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.20.2500315

Long COVID in Young Children: Study Reveals Age-Specific Symptoms and Health Risks

A new study from Mass General Brigham, published in JAMA Pediatrics, reveals that long COVID symptoms in young children can differ significantly from those in adults and older kids. As part of the NIH-funded RECOVER initiative, researchers found that infants and preschoolers who had COVID were more likely to experience lingering health issues months after infection.

In infants and toddlers (under age 2), the most common symptoms included trouble sleeping, fussiness, poor appetite, stuffy nose, and cough. Preschool-aged children (ages 3–5) were more prone to dry cough and daytime fatigue.

“This study is important because it shows that long COVID symptoms in young children are different from those in older children and adults,” said co-author Dr. Tanayott (Tony) Thaweethai of Massachusetts General Hospital. “Children with these symptoms often had worse overall health, lower quality of life, and delays in development.”

Researchers examined 472 infants/toddlers and 539 preschoolers across more than 30 U.S. healthcare settings between March 2022 and July 2024. They compared COVID-positive children with those never infected. Long COVID was identified in 14% of infants/toddlers and 15% of preschool-aged children.

Co-senior author Dr. Andrea Foulkes emphasized that the patterns identified can guide future research and care. “The tools from this study can be used in future studies to better understand long COVID in young children and develop ways to care for them.”

The authors caution that their findings are research-based and not for clinical diagnosis.

Reference: Gross, R. S., et al. (2025). Characterizing Long COVID Symptoms During Early Childhood. JAMA Pediatrics. doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.1066.