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

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