Scientists make concerning discovery about lung cancer and microplastics
Lung cancer patients have been found to have greater amounts of microplastics in their lungs than people without the disease, scientists have discovered.
Researchers in Greece observed a 20 % increase in microplastic particles in the lung fluid of 50 lung‑cancer patients compared with healthy controls, suggesting that inhaled microplastics accumulate more frequently in the lungs of individuals with cancer. The study, published by the European Respiratory Society, highlights the potential role of environmental plastic pollution in respiratory carcinogenesis and underscores the need for further investigations into how microplastics may influence tumor biology and patient outcomes.
If inhaled microplastics preferentially accumulate in lung tissue of cancer patients, they could exacerbate inflammation and other tumor‑promoting processes, potentially influencing disease progression, therapeutic response and survival. Understanding this interaction may identify novel environmental risk factors and guide public health interventions to reduce plastic exposure.
Evidence level: Állatkísérletes. Állatmodellben vizsgálták.