Microplastics—tiny bits of plastic less than five millimeters wide—have found their way into every nook and cranny of our world. They’re everywhere, from the deep blue seas to the highest mountain tops. Scientists see them all around, but we’re still figuring out how they mess with our bodies and nature (this is still being sorted out through ongoing studies). Understanding these effects matters a lot for both public health and keeping our environment in good shape.
Unveiling new research insights
New findings from the University of Pittsburgh are shining a light on how microplastics might affect us. At the 2025 International Conference of the American Thoracic Society, professor Adam Soloff—a specialist in cardiothoracic surgery—presented this eye-opening study. In his research, mice were exposed to different sizes and concentrations of polystyrene microplastics. Amazingly, in just 24 hours, these particles slowed down the lung’s macrophages (immune cells that help clear out dead cells and germs).
Macrophages work by gobbling up bacteria and other harmful stuff in our lungs. But once microplastics got into the picture, their ability to do the job took a big hit. Soloff admitted, “I was convinced that macrophages would digest the microplastics and that everything would be resolved. I was really surprised by what we discovered.” His surprise at these results points to a possible weak spot in how our lungs defend against harmful airborne particles.
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The journey of microplastics inside the body
The study also found that these plastic particles don’t just hang around in the lungs after being inhaled. Over the next week, they made their way to key organs like the liver, spleen, colon, brain, and kidneys (which is pretty unsettling when you think about it). This movement through the body raises some real worries about ongoing health issues, from possible interference with the immune system to a higher risk of diseases that affect several organs.
Seeing microplastics in so many important areas makes it clear that we need to dig deeper into how they might cause problems over a long time. Knowing how these particles interact with different parts of our body is a big step in figuring out what they really do to our health.
Exploring potential fixes
In the wake of these surprising findings, researchers are looking into ways to lessen what happens when we’re exposed to microplastics. One interesting lead is a substance called acadesine. It’s already used in treating some kinds of leukemia, and early tests are showing that it might help bring back some of the lung cells’ function after microplastic exposure. (Think of it as a potential patch-up for our overworked lung cells.) This could eventually lead to new treatments for lung problems in areas where plastic pollution is a heavy burden.
Still, while these medical fixes offer a ray of hope in dealing with some of the problems from microplastic exposure, they don’t tackle where it all starts—our heavy use of plastic. Cutting down on plastic is definitely something we need to focus on if we want to keep our health and nature in good shape.
Microplastics are everywhere, and handling this challenge has to be a top priority for scientists and lawmakers. As more studies come to light about what these little particles do to our bodies and the world around us, it’s becoming more apparent that addressing this issue is important to protect our future. By getting the word out and taking steps to use less plastic now, we can help set the stage for a healthier world tomorrow.
