Microplastics have become ubiquitous in the human body, found in organs from the brain to bones, but their health effects remain unclear. A new study, the first of its kind, has begun to track how these particles move through the body after ingestion.
The world's longest-running agricultural experiment, housed at Rothamsted Research in Hertfordshire, provides a historical record of plastic pollution. Its archive of soil and crop samples, collected since 1843, shows a clear increase in microplastics from the 1960s onward, with some particles likely deposited from the air or shed from tractor tyres.
In early 2025, eight volunteers in London participated in a human challenge trial led by Imperial College London researcher Stephanie Wright. Funded by the Minderoo Foundation, the trial involved drinking a solution of microplastics designed to mimic real-world exposures, such as those from plastic tea bags or microwaved containers.
“We know that heating and hot water are the worst-case scenarios for plastic ingestion,” Wright said. The study aims to measure how many microplastics are absorbed across the gut and into the body. Results have not yet been published.
Another study published in 2024 found that human consumption of microplastics has increased sixfold since 1990, with hotspots including the US, China, and parts of Europe.
