Tiny plastic particles released from degrading garbage and tire wear may be contributing to respiratory issues, infertility, and cancer, according to a review led by researchers at UC San Francisco (UCSF). The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, analyzed data from 3,000 research papers and linked microplastics to serious health conditions, including colon cancer, lung dysfunction, and chronic pulmonary inflammation, which raises the risk of lung cancer.
“These microplastics are essentially particulate air pollution, and we know this type of pollution is harmful,” said Dr. Tracey J. Woodruff, senior author of the study and director of UCSF’s Program on Reproductive Health & the Environment (PRHE).
Microplastics, which measure less than 5 millimeters, are pervasive in the environment. Tire friction on roads is a major source of airborne plastic fragments. With global plastic production expected to rise from 460 million metric tons annually to 1.1 billion by 2050, exposure to these pollutants is likely to increase.
This study is the first comprehensive review of microplastics using research methods approved by the National Academy of Sciences. While most of the studies reviewed were conducted on animals, researchers believe the findings are relevant to humans due to shared environmental exposures.
As reported by medicalxpress, the report builds on earlier work done by UCSF researchers for the California State Policy Evidence Consortium (CalSPEC), which supports legislative decisions.
“We urge regulatory agencies and policy leaders to address the growing evidence of health harms from microplastics, including colon and lung cancer,” said Dr. Nicholas Chartres, lead author of the study and former science and policy leader at PRHE. Chartres, now at the University of Sydney, called for immediate action from policymakers to reduce microplastic exposure.