Microplastics have been found everywhere that scientists have sought them. Now, according to research published in ACS Partner magazine. Environment and HealthThese plastic bits, 1 to 62 micrometers long, are present in the filtered solutions used for intravenous medical infusions (IV). Researchers estimate that thousands of plastic particles could be administered directly to the bloodstream of a person from a single bag of 8.4 ounces (250 milliliters) of infusion fluid.
In clinical environments, IV infusions are packaged in individual plastic bags and deliver water, electrolytes, nutrients or medications to patients. The basis of these infusions is a saline solution that contains filtered water and sufficient salt to coincide with the content of human blood. The investigation of the 1970s suggests that IV fluid bags can contain solid particles, but few scientists have followed what these particles are made. Liwu Zhang, VentSislav Kolev Valev and his colleagues suspected that these particles could be microplastic that, after infusion, would enter the bloodstream of the receiver and potentially cause negative effects on health. Therefore, they set out to analyze the types and amounts of particles in commercial fluid bags IV.
The team bought two different brands of bags of 8.4 ounces of saline solution IV. After the content of each bag drip in separate glass containers, the liquids leaked to catch microscopic particles. Then, the researchers told a portion of the individual plastic fragments, using that amount to estimate the total number of microplastics throughout the IV liquid bag and analyze the composition of the particles.
The researchers discovered that both saline solutions contained microplastic particles made of polypropylene, the same material as the bags, which suggests that the bags throw microplastics in the solutions. And they estimated that each infusion fluid bag could deliver approximately 7,500 microplastics directly to the bloodstream. This figure increases to about 25,000 particles to treat dehydration or 52,500 for abdominal surgery, which may require multiple IV bags.
Researchers recommend keeping IV infusion bags away from ultraviolet light and heat to reduce microplastic detachment, and say that micrometer filtration systems could be used to remove particles during infusion.
Although there are no clinical studies to date that they have evaluated the health risks of exposure to microplastics, researchers say their findings will help “provide a scientific basis to formulate appropriate policies and measures to mitigate the possible threats raised by microplastics to human health.”
The authors recognize the financing of the National Foundation of Natural Sciences of China.