What exactly are microplastics?
On 26 June, Planet B organised the largest public study into microplastics in human blood ever held in Europe. 120 people had their finger pricked and went home with one question on their mind: is there plastic in my blood? While the 120 blood samples are on their way to the lab, we're finding out what microplastics actually are and how they end up in your body.
Why is this topic suddenly everywhere?
Scientists have known since 2022 that there are microplastics in human blood. Researchers at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam found plastic particles in the blood of 17 of 22 test subjects, a scientific first. A follow-up study from 2024 with 68 new participants confirmed this with a larger and therefore more reliable sample: in 64 of them, polymers such as polyethylene, PVC and PET were found.
Microplastics are literally everywhere; they can even fall from the air onto a blood sample during collection. That's why Planet B tested with plastic-free materials: glass tubes instead of plastic, closed windows, the air conditioning off and a dust-free room. If you do it, you do it properly.
What exactly are microplastics?
Did you know?
Microplastics are pieces of plastic smaller than five millimetres. Nanoplastics are even smaller, less than one hundred nanometres, and too small to see with the naked eye. According to the RIVM, microplastics have now been found in our blood, our lungs and even the placenta.
There are two types. Primary microplastics are deliberately manufactured small, such as scrub beads in cosmetics. Secondary microplastics are created by the wear and tear of larger plastic products, such as clothing, packaging or car tyres.
Both types accumulate in the environment, and therefore also in what we breathe, eat and drink every day. Meanwhile, microplastics are turning up in almost every body part scientists examine, from the lungs to the brain.
Are microplastics harmful to your health?
That's the question everyone is waiting for, and the honest answer is: we don't know for sure yet. Clear negative effects have already been observed in animals, such as inflammation and a disrupted metabolism. In humans, that research is still in full swing, including through the Dutch MOMENTUM consortium.
What scientists do know: microplastics travel easily with your blood to other organs. The greater the exposure, the greater the chance that it has consequences somewhere. That's why studies like Planet B's are so valuable: they provide extra data on exactly how much plastic is in our bloodstream.
How do microplastics end up in your blood?
The smallest particles are small enough to enter your bloodstream through your intestinal wall or lungs. This happens via several routes.
- Inhalation: microplastics float in the air, especially indoors. They are released through the wear of textiles, carpet, upholstery and car tyres, and can end up deep in your lungs.
- Food and drink: packaging, bottled water and even tap water can contain microplastics. Salt, honey and seafood are also known sources.
- Skin and personal care: some cosmetics and personal care products contain microplastics, for example as scrub beads. These can be absorbed through mucous membranes.
How many of these particles eventually end up in your blood and how long they stay there is still being actively researched.
What makes the Planet B study special?
With 120 participants, this is the largest public study into microplastics in blood ever organised in Europe. Earlier scientific studies worked with smaller groups of 22 to 68 test subjects. A larger sample gives a more complete picture of how much plastic is in our blood on average.
Just as important is the way the samples were taken. To avoid plastic from the surroundings distorting the results, Planet B chose completely plastic-free test materials. That way you can be sure that whatever is found in the lab later really comes from the participants' bodies.
What can you do yourself to reduce your exposure?
Nobody can avoid them completely. The good news: you can cut down, and you don't have to overhaul your whole life to do it.
- Choose tap water. Replace bottled water with tap water in a glass or stainless steel bottle. Unscrewing the cap of a PET bottle actually releases microplastics.
- Wash synthetics less often. Clothing made of polyester or nylon sheds thousands of microfibres with every wash. Wash at a low temperature and as little as possible.
- Don't heat in plastic. Use glass or ceramic in the microwave. Heated plastic releases particles into your food more quickly.
- Take a critical look at your personal care routine. Check labels for ingredients and, where possible, choose plastic-free formulas.
So, don't take the risk.
The Planet B study wasn't chosen by chance: the more people understand what is in their blood, the more concrete the conversation about exposure becomes. In a few weeks, we'll know what is really in the 120 blood samples from 26 June. Life in plastics, and we have no intention of leaving it at that.
