Up to 68,000 microplastics enter lungs daily, new study shows

New research reveals that every breath we take may be filled with thousands of invisible plastic particles capable of burrowing deep into the lungs. According to a peer-reviewed study published in PLOS One, humans may inhale as many as 68,000 microplastic particles each day, most of them in indoor environments or inside cars, where concentrations are especially high due to enclosed spaces and poor ventilation. These tiny fragments, measuring just 1–10 micrometers—about one-seventh the thickness of a human hair—can penetrate lung tissue, enter the bloodstream, and spread throughout the body, posing risks such as chronic inflammation, lung cancer, and other long-term health issues. The findings highlight an often overlooked danger of plastic pollution, and researchers stress the urgent need to reduce exposure through measures like HEPA air filters, natural materials, and better ventilation.