Microplastics are found more frequently and in higher quantities in the lungs of lung cancer patients compared to individuals without the disease, according to new research presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Barcelona, Spain. The study, led by Dr. Ilias Dimeas from the University College Dublin School of Medicine and the University of Thessaly, adds to a growing body of evidence regarding environmental plastic pollution and human respiratory health.
Study Details and Findings on Lung Microplastics
The research investigated 100 people who underwent a bronchoscopy to evaluate lung symptoms at the University Hospital of Larissa in Thessaly, Greece, according to findings discussed at the ERS Congress. During the procedure, a flexible bronchoscope equipped with a camera allowed physicians to inspect the airways and collect diagnostic samples. Every participant provided a lung-wash sample, where a saline solution flushed a specific section of the lung to retrieve cells and other material. For half of the cohort, researchers also obtained a small sample of lung tissue.
Laboratory analysis identified a total of 232 microplastic particles across all gathered samples. Overall, 70% of the patients had detectable microplastics in at least one sample type, whether the lung wash, tissue, or both. When evaluating the lung wash and tissue samples together, researchers discovered that patients diagnosed with lung cancer—numbering 50 out of the 100 total participants—were more likely to have detectable microplastics and maintained a higher overall microplastic burden than the 50 patients without cancer. Specifically, lung cancer patients showed a higher detection rate in their lung wash samples at 66%, compared to 46% for non-cancer patients.
Distribution of Particles and Plastic Types
When comparing lung wash and tissue samples from the same individuals, investigators noted an inverse trend: patients showing higher microplastic counts in their lung wash tended to have lower counts in the corresponding tissue sample, and vice versa. Because lung wash samples capture particles from open airspaces while tissue samples capture particles embedded deep within the lung parenchyma, this distribution indicates that microplastics do not settle evenly throughout the respiratory tract.
Chemical analysis of the recovered particles revealed that polypropylene and polyethylene were the predominant polymer types. These materials are heavily utilized across global manufacturing for everyday consumer goods, product packaging, and textiles. According to Dr. Dimeas, the results demonstrate that inhaled microplastics enter the human lung more frequently than previously recognized.
Scientific Implications and Future Research Needs
While the study demonstrates a clear statistical correlation between higher microplastic burdens and lung cancer, investigators emphasize that the observational design does not establish direct causation. Dr. Dimeas noted that while microplastics could theoretically provoke localized inflammation or other biological disruptions that foster cancer development, it remains equally plausible that diseased lung tissue alters how particles are retained compared to healthy tissue.
The findings highlight critical questions for ongoing environmental health research. As airborne microplastics become an inescapable component of modern atmospheric dust, scientists continue investigating whether daily inhalation contributes significantly to the progression of chronic respiratory diseases.
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