Microplastics Saturate Indoor Air, Posing Serious Health Risks

According to a study published on July 30, 2025, researchers have discovered that the air we breathe is saturated with tens of thousands of lung-penetrating microplastics. The study, conducted by researchers at the Universite de Toulouse in France, found that indoor air is a previously underestimated source of exposure to these tiny plastic particles.

The researchers collected air samples from apartments and car cabins, and their findings were alarming. They detected around 68,000 microparticles in the air, with most of them being smaller than a speck of dust and seven times thinner than a strand of human hair. This small size means the microplastics can be easily inhaled deep into the lungs, increasing the risk of immune system effects and organ damage.

The study's lead author, postdoctoral researcher Nadiia Yakovenko, warned that once the microplastics are inside the lungs, they can release toxic additives that can reach the bloodstream and potentially cause multiple diseases. The researchers also found that car cabins had microplastic concentrations 100 times higher than previous estimates, underscoring the need for further research into this critical issue.

Professor Thava Palanisami from the Australian Plastic Research and Innovation Lab, who was not involved in the study, said the findings "underscore the need for a critical reassessment of airborne microplastic exposure pathways, and their potential for deep lung penetration, systemic translocation, and associated toxicological impacts."