Recent research has highlighted the presence of microplastics in the human body, raising concerns about their origins and effects. Cassandra Rauert, an environmental chemist at the University of Queensland, has been investigating this issue. Her findings suggest that contamination in lab settings may lead to overestimated levels of microplastics detected in human blood.
Challenges in Measuring Microplastics
Microplastics are pervasive, found in oceans, soils, air, drinking water, and food. However, studying their impact on human health remains complicated. According to Rauert, the analytical techniques used to detect microplastics are not foolproof. In her research, she discovered that lipids in blood can produce false positives for polyethylene, one of the most common plastics.
“I tested a little bit of my blood and saw screamingly high levels of polyethylene. It just didn’t make sense,” Rauert explained. This observation prompted her team to reassess the reliability of current measurement methods.
Redesigning Laboratories to Avoid Contamination
Rauert's team undertook a significant overhaul of their laboratory to minimize plastic contamination. Traditional lab materials, such as plastic pipettes and Petri dishes, were replaced with glass and stainless steel. The decision was driven by the need to eliminate potential sources of microplastic contamination.
