NEW YORK, Aug 6: Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna have, for the first time, directly linked microplastics to malignant changes in lung cells that are associated with cancer development, according to a recent media release.

While it has long been recognized that microplastics adversely affect lung health — causing inflammation, oxidative stress, and diminished lung function—scientists at MedUni Vienna have now uncovered a direct connection between microplastics and cancerous changes in lung cells.

Their study, published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, investigated how polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics interact with various lung cell types. Polystyrene is a widely used plastic, commonly found in foam food packaging such as take-out containers and grocery store meat trays.

The researchers observed that exposure to these microplastic particles caused healthy lung cells to exhibit increased migration, DNA damage, oxidative stress, and activation of signaling pathways that encourage cell growth and survival—key early indicators of cancerous transformation.

Co-leader of the study, Balazs Döme, remarked, “The current data provide initial evidence that healthy lung cells respond in a way that is indeed cause for concern.”

Microplastics are increasingly recognized as a serious threat to human health, linked not only to lung issues but also to liver fibrosis, abnormal lipid accumulation, and hormonal disruption. Although the effects of microplastic exposure can be gradual and hard to detect, long-term consequences are expected to be severe.

Beyond human health, plastic pollution severely affects wildlife. Marine creatures often become entangled in discarded fishing gear and plastic debris, leading to injury, starvation, and death. Terrestrial animals and birds mistake plastic waste for food, resulting in harmful accumulation that can stunt development, cause disease, or prove fatal.

Microplastics have infiltrated nearly every ecosystem on the planet, largely due to the pervasive use of plastics in modern life. Even those who avoid plastics as much as possible often encounter microplastics inadvertently.

Scientists are actively pursuing innovative methods to address this growing threat. For instance, a recently developed blood filtration technique—similar to dialysis—shows promise in removing microplastics from the human body, potentially lessening their health impacts.

On the prevention side, the Cleaner Seas Group has introduced a home water filtration device named Indi, designed to attach to household washing machines and filter microplastics from laundry wastewater before it contaminates water supplies.