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A new study presented at the European Respiratory Society congress found that lung cancer patients have significantly higher microplastic levels in their lungs than those without cancer. Researchers analyzed samples from 100 adults and found microplastics in 70% of participants, with cancer patients more likely to have detectable particles. Whether microplastics contribute to cancer or diseased lungs simply retain them differently remains an open question.
A study presented at the European Respiratory Society's annual congress has found that lung cancer patients carry a significantly higher microplastic burden compared to those without malignancy. Researchers from University College Dublin and the University of Thessaly examined bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and lung tissue samples from 100 adults undergoing diagnostic bronchoscopy — 50 later diagnosed with lung cancer and 50 without.
Of the 232 microplastic particles identified, 70% of all participants had detectable microplastics in at least one sample. Lung cancer patients were notably more likely to have microplastics in their BAL fluid (66% vs. 46%), and their overall microplastic burden was higher. Interestingly, microplastic counts in BAL fluid and tissue didn't align well, suggesting the particles behave differently depending on where in the lung they're found.
Researchers caution that the study can't confirm causation — microplastics may fuel inflammation that promotes cancer, or cancerous lungs may simply trap particles more readily.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: As microplastic exposure becomes a growing public health concern, this research adds a potentially significant dimension — a possible link to lung cancer. While causality isn't established yet, the findings underscore the urgent need for further investigation into how environmental pollutants may shape cancer risk.
