Microplastics in our organs could be tied to disease, Chinese researchers say

Microplastics fill the air, water, and our bodies — but experts are still learning more about the particles’ effects on humans

Microplastics that have been found in human organs have “alarming links” to adverse health impacts, including lesions, cervical cancer, and other diseases, researchers suggest.

The plastic pollution — small broken-down pieces that are no larger than five millimeters — has been detected everywhere: in the water humans drink, in the air we breathe, in our hearts, and in our genitals. And, scientists have predicted that environmental contamination could double by 2040. Although new insights into their prevalence have aided experts’ understanding of the current situation, the full scope and negative consequences of this pollution remain to be seen.

Now, an analysis from Chinese academics has indicated a correlation between microplastic accumulation and disease, like tissue cancer, stressing the urgent need to more accurately determine hazards related to these plastic particles in humans.

“[Microplastics] with different types, shapes, and sizes have been detected in various human systems. Notably, the occurrence of [these plastics] is markedly correlated with corresponding lesions and diseases, which is the key evidence that [they] harm human health,” the authors wrote.

Plastic pollution has permeated the air and water, as well as the human body. But the extent of that pollution and its impacts are still being uncovered (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

To reach these conclusions, they reviewed hundreds of articles on contamination in human tissues and the effects of these particles on the body. The authors said various methods of detection were employed to find the pieces, which were in lung tissue and placenta.

The research, which was led by Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University and funded by the country’s National Science Foundation, was published in the February 2025 edition of the journal TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry.

Previous findings from the University of New Mexico showed that the particles travel from the gut and into the tissues of the kidney, liver and brain. They’ve also been linked to DNA damage and changes in gene activity: which is a factor that is tied to cancer.

“Co-citation cluster analysis showed that the existence of [plastics] in human tissues (e.g., lung tissue and human placenta) and their correlation with diseases (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease and cervical cancer) are current research hotspots in human [micro- and nanoplastic] detection,” the Chinese authors said.

Cluster analysis is a statistical method for data processing that is used to group similar objects into respective categories.

Scientists say the presence of microplastics and nanoplastics is 'positively correlated' with the occurrence of tissue lesions, such as cervical cancer (Getty Images)

Notably, it is still unclear if the plastic results in damage that leads to disease, or if they appear in tissue that has already been damaged.

While the work does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship, it highlights the need for further research and methods to quantify these particles in human tissues.

“The potential hazards of [microplastics] to humans require urgent attention, and additional monitoring experiments and epidemiological studies are needed to further elucidate the relevant mechanisms,” they said.