Momeni Mohamad Kazem, Taghipour Hassan, Ghayebzadeh Mehdi, Mohammadi Mahdi, Keikhaee Razieh
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Clinical Immunology Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
Health and Environment Research Center, School of Public Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Environ Pollut. 2025 Jan 15;365:125389. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125389. Epub 2024 Nov 26.
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants found in all ecosystems. While extensive research has focused on MP pollution across ecosystems, investigating their effect on the human body is still in its early stages. This study, conducted for the first time in Iran, specifically investigates MPs in the respiratory system, including sputum, broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and pleural fluid. In this study, 34 patients participated after signing the consent form. Professional physicians collected 13 sputum samples, 11 BALF samples, and 10 pleural fluid samples. Patients' demographic information, lifestyle, occupation, exposed environment, and type of disease were evaluated through a questionnaire. The combination of digestion techniques, density separation, observation, Micro-Raman, and SEM/EDS analysis was performed to recognize MPs. The study results confirmed the presence of MPs in the respiratory system of all participants. MPs abundance in sputum, BALF, and pleural fluid varied between 156 and 468, 28-133, and 21-210 particles/100 mL, respectively. Generally, 22 types of MPs were identified and polyester (62-72%) was predominant. Fiber-shaped MPs were dominant in sputum (77%) and BALF (70%), and fragment-shaped in pleural fluid (63%). Particles <100 μm were the most abundant in all samples [in sputum (75.9%), BALF (50%), and pleural fluid (94.4%)]. Sampling type, occupational exposure, smoking, exposure to cigarette smoke, and wearing masks have affected the abundance of MPs (P < 0.05). Also, the shape and size of MPs affect their deposition in the respiratory system (P < 0.05). Hence, minimizing exposure to MPs is essential for safeguarding the environment and human health.
微塑料（MPs）是在所有生态系统中都能发现的新兴污染物。虽然广泛的研究集中在跨生态系统的微塑料污染上，但调查它们对人体的影响仍处于早期阶段。这项首次在伊朗进行的研究，专门调查了呼吸系统中的微塑料，包括痰液、支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）和胸水。在本研究中，34名患者签署知情同意书后参与。专业医生收集了13份痰液样本、11份支气管肺泡灌洗液样本和10份胸水样本。通过问卷调查评估患者的人口统计学信息、生活方式、职业、暴露环境和疾病类型。采用消化技术、密度分离、观察、显微拉曼光谱和扫描电子显微镜/能谱分析（SEM/EDS）相结合的方法来识别微塑料。研究结果证实所有参与者的呼吸系统中都存在微塑料。痰液、支气管肺泡灌洗液和胸水中微塑料的丰度分别在156至468、28至133和21至210颗粒/100 mL之间变化。一般来说，共识别出22种微塑料类型，其中聚酯（62 - 72%）占主导。纤维状微塑料在痰液（77%）和支气管肺泡灌洗液（70%）中占主导，而碎片状在胸水中占主导（63%）。所有样本中<100μm的颗粒最为丰富[在痰液中（75.9%）、支气管肺泡灌洗液中（50%）和胸水中（94.4%）]。采样类型、职业暴露、吸烟、接触香烟烟雾和佩戴口罩都影响了微塑料的丰度（P < 0.05）。此外，微塑料的形状和大小会影响它们在呼吸系统中的沉积（P < 0.05）。因此，尽量减少微塑料暴露对于保护环境和人类健康至关重要。
