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Discovery and quantification of plastic particle pollution in human blood

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Topics

Chemical pollution, Environmental Data, Health, Microplastics, Plastic Pollution, Pollutants

Audiences

Activists, Educators, Health Professionals, NGO Professionals, Policy Makers, Researchers, Scientists, Students, Teachers

Type

Peer-reviewed research

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In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers led by Heather A. Leslie of Vrije University in Amsterdam detected plastic polymers in human blood, together representing several commonly used plastics. These included polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), and polymers of styrene (which is found in polystyrene, acetonitrile butadiene styrene and other plastics), as well as poly(methyl methacrylate). Blood was collected from a small set of blood donors.

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