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Effects of plastic: Scientists find microplastics in human blood for the first time!

Mar 10, 2025

  From the deepest oceans to the highest mountains, from the air, soil to the food chain, microplastic debris has appeared almost anywhere on the earth. Now, more studies have confirmed that microplastics have "invaded" human blood.

Usually, plastic fragments smaller than 5 mm in diameter are called "microplastics", and the extremely small size makes it difficult for us to notice their existence.

  Scientists have detected microplastic pollution in human blood for the first time, according to a study published in the journal Environment International. Some previous studies have found microplastics in the gut, placentas of unborn babies, and in adult and infant feces, but never in blood samples.

  The study examined blood samples from 22 anonymous healthy volunteers and found that 77% of the samples contained microplastics, with an average concentration of 1.6 micrograms per milliliter.

  A total of 5 plastics were tested in the study: polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

PMMA, also known as acrylic or plexiglass, is mostly used for the appearance of electronic equipment and lighting equipment

PP is widely used in takeaway lunch boxes, fresh-keeping boxes, and some milk bottles

PS is widely used in disposable food packaging materials

PE is often used in packaging films and plastic bags, such as fresh-keeping bags, cling film

PET is usually used for the appearance of mineral water bottles, beverage bottles and various household appliances, etc.

The results showed that about half of the blood samples showed traces of PET plastic, more than a third contained PS, and about a quarter contained PE.

  Even more shocking, the researchers found as many as three different types of microplastics in a single blood sample.

  Studies have shown that these microplastics may enter the human body through various routes such as air, water or food, and may also enter the human body through specific toothpastes, lipsticks and tattoo inks. In theory, plastic particles could be transported through the bloodstream to various organs throughout the body.

  The researchers say other kinds of microplastics may be present in the blood, but their study did not detect particles larger than the diameter of a sampling needle.

  While the effects of microplastics on human health are unclear, researchers are concerned that microplastics can cause damage to human cells. Air pollution particles have previously been shown to enter the body and cause millions of premature deaths each year.

  Lvwei degradable tableware has won praise in the market for its wide range of raw materials, easily degradable, recyclable and renewable distinctive features and environmental protection style, making it stand out among all kinds of plastic material substitutes, and the products can be in the natural state within 90 days It is fully degraded and can also be used for household and industrial composting. The main components after degradation are water and carbon dioxide, which will not produce garbage residue and pollution.

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Can disposable tableware be put in the microwave? How do I choose when I buy it myself?

Can disposable tableware be put in the microwave? How do I choose when I buy it myself?


Many people like to cook, but they don't like to wash the dishes. In order to solve this problem, some families will divide labor and cooperate to arrange housework, and some families will buy dishwashers. Some people simply order takeout directly, or buy some disposable tableware that does not need to be cleaned.

So, the topic comes to disposable tableware, are they safe to use for a long time? Can it be heated in the microwave?

Let’s help you sort it out today!


The most frequent use of disposable tableware is in take-out. It is relatively rare to buy disposable tableware by yourself. Either the party is free from washing so many dishes, or it is usually too busy and does not want to spend the rare rest time doing housework.

The characteristics of Chinese food are that it likes hot, oily, often soupy, and occasionally needs to be reheated in a microwave oven.

Therefore, the disposable tableware for these foods needs to be resistant to high temperature, oil and water.

Among the many disposable tableware, from the intuitive impression of consumers, it can be roughly divided into two categories: plastic tableware and paper tableware.

There are many kinds of raw materials for plastic and "paper" pulp. It is not necessary for consumers to understand and memorize them all. They only need to identify what we need from many products.


Plastic tableware is light and thin, and has strong plasticity. Different plastic materials have different characteristics and will be used in different scenarios. Some are cheap, high strength and not easy to crack, but not resistant to high temperature, suitable for mineral water bottles. Some have particularly good ductility and safe ingredients, and can be directly contacted with various foods, making them suitable for making plastic wrap.


But when it comes to high temperature resistance and suitable for microwave heating, you only need to remember one kind of plastic: polypropylene (PP), and the plastic material identification code is 5. There are many kinds of plastic products, such as PS, PE, PET, PVC, and more and more degradable bio-based plastics PLA, PBAT, etc., it is not easy for the public to remember so many names .


Since the usage scenario we are focusing on is eating, we must remember that the most suitable material is PP. If you buy it yourself, you should choose PP material. If the box you order for takeaway doesn’t have the PP logo, don’t put it in the microwave for secondary heating.


This way of grasping the big and letting go of the small can help us stay away from danger as much as possible and ensure safety.



When it comes to disposable tableware, you may be concerned that they contain unhealthy ingredients such as bleach and plasticizers, while log-colored, paper tableware is easier to feel at ease.

Therefore, many restaurants have also begun to choose wood-colored and paper-based disposable tableware to win the favor of consumers. When we were doing the 211 health live class, we also bought such disposable tableware, which looked good and had high quality. If you buy it yourself, you will probably see the following three categories.



Category 1

Made of bagasse, straw and other raw materials, the texture is matte, and there is no plastic film.

In fact, the fiber itself in the raw materials such as bagasse cannot be oil-proof and waterproof, so it is necessary to add waterproof and oil-proof additives to these slurries, so that the final pressed disposable tableware can meet the needs of daily use.

The biggest advantage of these tableware is higher safety, and the technology used is closer to papermaking technology. Products of relatively high quality can also be heated in a microwave oven.

It is also my recommended disposable tableware.



Category 2

Made of cardboard with plastic lamination.

The paper cups, instant noodle buckets, and kraft paper tableware that we commonly see belong to this category, and the plastics mentioned above are used for the internal film.

The most widely used is PE coating. With the enhancement of environmental protection awareness, more and more merchants use degradable PLA coated tableware.

However, these films are not resistant to high temperatures and are not suitable for heating in microwave ovens.



Category 3

Cutlery made from cornstarch.

This category of cutlery is a bit confusing because cornstarch usage varies widely.

Some tableware is mainly made of cornstarch, plus some plastic ingredients, and some will use degradable bio-based plastics, focusing on environmental protection.

Some tableware is mainly made of PP plastic, only a small amount of cornstarch is added, which looks like paper tableware, but the essence is still plastic.

But this is only a very rough classification. During the research, it was found that the formulas of this cornstarch-based disposable tableware vary widely, and some formulas are commercial secrets and are not disclosed.

However, by looking at the order of ingredients on the product packaging, you can still make a rough judgment. Like food, whoever adds the most will come first.

In general, these disposable tableware are still very safe and can be heated in the microwave. It's just the different plastic components that determine whether this cornstarch tableware is degradable.


For environmental protection, it is recommended that everyone prefer degradable materials.


Recommendations for use are based on the current mainstream products on the market. You only need to keep the following points in mind: use only PP material in the microwave oven, paper tableware without film (bagasse, straw and other raw materials), and don’t take risks with other materials.


Takeaway Food Packaging Makes Up Half Of Ocean Plastic Waste, Study Finds

Takeout packaging is dominating the litter in our oceans, a new study finds. Finding that just four food and drink items—single-use bags, bottles, containers, and wrappers—account for nearly half of all plastic pollution on shorelines and the sea, researchers say there is an urgent need for policies to intervene in the use of common throwaway plastics. 

Scientists at the University of Cádiz have revealed that the four most widespread types of plastic littering the ocean all fall into the category of takeaway food and beverage packaging. Disposable plastic bags, bottles, containers, and wrappers account for 44% of all trash in the sea, found the study published in a recent issue of the journal Nature Sustainability

Disproportionate amount of takeout packaging was ‘surprising’

Collaborating with 15 nonprofits and institutions from 10 different countries, the research team at the University of Cádiz in Spain identified the most polluting items in the world’s aquatic systems on a global scale. The researchers integrated more than 12 million sets of data from sampling and classification undertaken worldwide to compare patterns across different regions, ecosystems and rank the top items littering the sea. 

Worldwide, 80% of all human-made trash found in the ocean was made of plastic, far exceeding other materials such as glass, fabric, paper, and processed wood. The majority of plastic was found in surface waters of the sea and shorelines, while fewer quantities were found in riverbeds. 

But the surprising finding of the study was the huge proportion of plastic waste that came from food packaging. Three-quarters of all ocean trash came down to just 10 items in total, among them plastic lids, stirrers, and fishing gear, in addition to the four plastic takeout items. 

“We were not surprised about plastic being 80% of the litter, but the high proportion of takeaway items did surprise us,” commented lead author Carmen Morales-Caselles, in conversation with the Guardian

Current policies ‘do not yet address the core problem’

The researchers say that their findings will provide crucial information for policymakers to target plastic waste reduction in the most effective way. Describing their study as the “first complete diagnosis of the origin and nature of the litter dumped into the ocean,” the team called for prevention measures such as bans on the most commonly-used plastic throwaway items and policies to hold producers accountable. 

“This information will make it easier for policymakers to actually take action to try to turn off the tap of marine litter flowing into the ocean, rather than just clean it up,” said Morales-Caselles. 

Plastic bans and producer-pays measures needed 

What needs to happen instead, according to the study’s authors, is large-scale regulatory bans on avoidable takeout plastic products. Then, for those items that are considered “indispensable”, governments ought to bring in extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies to hold those who make the items accountable for the disposal and treatment of waste. 

Introducing more non-plastic takeout alternatives will be equally key, but it will be important for companies to source more easily degradable materials properly. 

“We found that paper and cardboard products, for example, show a very low occurrence in nature [1% on average], but their production also requires a sustainable raw material sourcing,” said Morales-Caselles. 

“Although there is no silver bullet for litter pollution, studies like this one do provide a consistent basis on which to design and coordinate more effective action plans,” concluded the research team. 

Global plastic action picking up speed

The results of the study come as pressure on governments and industry to take action on plastic waste reaches new heights. More than 70 countries have already pledged their support for an international plastic treaty, alongside conglomerates like Nestlé and even the chemical firms behind the production of plastic. 

In May, a report found that just 20 businesses are responsible for manufacturing over half of the world’s throwaway plastic. The list of firms, dominated by petrochemical companies, added to the growing calls for producers to be held responsible for their waste. 

By country, the same report found that rich nations like Australia and the U.S. produce the greatest amounts of single-use plastic waste per head of pollution at more than 50 kilograms a year, while the figure is as low as 4 kilograms a year for India. 


Advantages and disadvantages of plant fiber pulp products and disposable degradable pulp molding products

Plant fiber pulp products and disposable degradable pulp molded products have been favored by the market in recent years. One of the reasons is that it has significant advantages over alternatives in terms of environmental protection, price, and performance. The second is the strong support of the government and the influence of the global environment. Today, we analyze the advantages and disadvantages of plant fiber pulp product classification and disposable biodegradable pulp molding products.


1. Ordinary pulp products

As the name implies, it refers to the molded products made of yellow pulp, newspaper pulp, A4 pulp, etc. of carton boxes, which have low hygiene requirements and low prices.


2. Sugarcane pulp products

Sugarcane pulp products refer to molded products that are made of wet pulp or pulp board after being pulped by biological pulping. Sugarcane fibers are medium and long fibers with the advantages of moderate strength and moderate toughness. Said to be the most suitable raw material for molded products, so sugarcane pulp products are currently the most widely used.


3. Wheat straw pulp products

Wheat straw pulp products are divided into mechanical fiber wheat straw pulp molded products, chemical-mechanical wheat straw pulp molded products and chemical wheat straw pulp molded products. Wheat straw pulp has short fibers, good stiffness, brittle products, and poor flexibility. Neutralization of long fibers is required to increase the toughness of its products.


4. Bamboo pulp products

Bamboo fiber is a medium and long fiber, and its performance is between softwood and hardwood. The products produced by bamboo pulp have strong toughness and smooth and delicate surface, but fluffy fibers are prone to appear, with complex logarithmic shape, slope and Products with a smaller R angle can be added.


5. Wood pulp products

Wood pulp products are mainly divided into softwood pulp and hardwood pulp. Softwood pulp has long and fine fibers, and the wood pulp is relatively pure and has few impurities.

Hardwood pulp fiber is thick and short, and contains more impurities, the strength of the finished product is relatively low, the finished product is relatively loose, the absorption performance is strong, and the opacity is high. Paper made from softwood pulp has good flexibility, high folding resistance and good tensile strength. Paper made from hardwood pulp has high bulk, high stiffness and good packaging performance. Therefore, the thickness and density of products produced by different wood pulp will be different.


6. Reed pulp products

Reed pulp products are mainly used in papermaking, and are mostly used in low-grade products in molded products. Reed pulp is not easy to remove reed knots in the production process, has many impurities, and has low whiteness, but it is cheap and has good drainage. It is fluffy, so the finished product with the same gram weight is thicker and takes up more space.


7. Palm pulp products

Products made from fibers extracted from palm fruit and palm leaves are rarely used, mainly because the oil content of palm is high, which is not easy to remove, but has good stiffness.


8.Melon and rattan pulp products

Melon and vine pulp is a general term. All kinds of melon plants such as yellow vine and loofah vine can be used to produce molded products. However, different types of fibers are also very different. Most of these fibers are short fibers with relatively high stiffness. Poor, and impurities are not easy to deal with, so it is not widely used.


9.Cotton stalk pulp products

Cotton stalk pulp products only use cotton stalks. After removing the surface layer, the cotton stalk intermediate tissue is used to produce and process products. Cotton stalk fiber molding products have relatively fluffy fibers and poor stiffness, and are mostly used in low-grade papermaking.


10. Machine-milled fiber products

The method of refining is used to disperse the plant fiber raw materials into fibers under the action of mechanical force. The pulp produced by this method is called mechanical pulp. The machine-molded fiber is not separated from lignin and cellulose, and the fiber binding force is poor. It needs to be used in combination with chemical-mechanical pulp or chemical pulp. The amount of machine-molded fiber added should not exceed 50%, and the products after more than 50% are more prone to chipping.


11. Chemical pulp products

Chemical mechanical pulp refers to a certain chemical treatment before refining, and the obtained pulp is called chemical mechanical pulp. Chemical mechanical pulp generally contains higher lignin and cellulose components and lower hemicellulose components. , the pulp yield is higher. This type of pulp is mostly used in mid-range molded products, and its cost is higher than that of mechanical pulp, but lower than that of chemical pulp, and its bleaching, hydration and drainage performance is relatively close to that of mechanical pulp.


12. Chemical pulp products

It is mainly a molded product processed by acid and alkali pulping after chemical treatment. This kind of product is fine and smooth, and the pulp retains more lignin content in the raw material.


With the strengthening of people's awareness of environmental protection and the favor of the market, the classification of plant fiber pulp products and disposable degradable pulp molding products will usher in greater development.


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