Microplastics in three types of human arteries detected by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS)

Bioaccumulation of Microplastics in Decedent Human Brains Assessed by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

“…Py-GC/MS has proven to be an informative and reliable method to determine plastics concentrations in liquid and solid tissue samples, with ample assurance of accuracy, quality, and rigor 2,3,9,10 . Decedent liver and kidney MNP concentrations were similar, with means of 465 and 666 µg/g, respectively, from 2024 samples (Figure 1A).…”

“…The ubiquitous presence of plastics, especially polymer-derived particulates ranging from 500 micrometers in diameter down to 1 nanometer, de ned as micro-and nanoplastics (MNP), is a de ning feature of the Anthropocene epoch 1 . The extent to which microplastics cause harm or toxicity is unclear, although recent studies associated MNP presence in carotid atheromas with increased in ammation and risk of future adverse cardiovascular events 2,3 . In controlled exposure studies, MNPs clearly enhance or drive toxic outcomes [4][5][6] .…”

“…These methods are often limited to larger (>1-5µm) particulates, thus nanoplastics are excluded from the quantitation. As a novel approach, pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) has been applied to blood 9 , placentas 10 and recently major blood vessels 2,3 in a manner that appears more cumulative and quantitative, and less biased than visual identi cation methods. Py-GC/MS data between labs has been comparable, providing con dence in this method for human tissue analysis 2,9,10 .…”

“…As a novel approach, pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) has been applied to blood 9 , placentas 10 and recently major blood vessels 2,3 in a manner that appears more cumulative and quantitative, and less biased than visual identi cation methods. Py-GC/MS data between labs has been comparable, providing con dence in this method for human tissue analysis 2,9,10 . We applied Py-GC/MS to assess the relative distribution of MNPs in major organ systems from human decedent livers, kidneys, and brains.…”

The Aging Behavior of Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics by UV/Sodium Percarbonate Oxidation: Efficiency and Mechanism

“…Microplastics are widely distributed and of various types detected in diverse environments, encompassing soil [3], oceans [4], rivers [5], bottled water [6], sediments [7], urban wastewater [8], and even the air we breathe [9]. Microplastics, which can adsorb harmful substances [10][11][12] and are toxic to organisms [13], have been found in various biological bodies [14][15][16], including humans [17]. Among these microplastics, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) stands out as one of the most commonly encountered types [18][19][20].…”