Microplastics and respiratory health
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Kelly, Frank J
Fussell, Julia C
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Plastics are ubiquitous in the 21st century, as products and as waste. From production through use and to recycling or disposal, plastics release, via physical, chemical and/or
biological degradation processes, highly diverse and ill-defined particles into air, soil and water. Major sources of plastic debris include everyday items such as clothes made of synthetic materials, tires, packaging, consumer products, and paint. Owing to their longevity in the environment, plastic particles - encompassing macro- (>5mm), micro- (1µm-5mm) and nano- (<1µm) plastics - accumulate in indoor and outdoor environments promoting a substantial research effort into their ecological impacts and risks to human health. Given (a) that inhalation represents an important route of exposure, (b) the links between respiratory disease and high doses of inhaled plastics amongst individuals exposed in industrial settings
and (c) the vast literature showing that inhaled particles of many types cause lung injury, the impact of microplastics on respiratory health and disease is being actively investigated.
biological degradation processes, highly diverse and ill-defined particles into air, soil and water. Major sources of plastic debris include everyday items such as clothes made of synthetic materials, tires, packaging, consumer products, and paint. Owing to their longevity in the environment, plastic particles - encompassing macro- (>5mm), micro- (1µm-5mm) and nano- (<1µm) plastics - accumulate in indoor and outdoor environments promoting a substantial research effort into their ecological impacts and risks to human health. Given (a) that inhalation represents an important route of exposure, (b) the links between respiratory disease and high doses of inhaled plastics amongst individuals exposed in industrial settings
and (c) the vast literature showing that inhaled particles of many types cause lung injury, the impact of microplastics on respiratory health and disease is being actively investigated.
Date Issued
2026-05-01
Date Acceptance
2026-01-12
Citation
Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 2026, 23 (5), pp.699-701
ISSN
1546-3222
Publisher
American Thoracic Society
Start Page
699
End Page
701
Journal / Book Title
Annals of the American Thoracic Society
Volume
23
Issue
5
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2026 Copyright Owner. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/41721758
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Article Number
aaoag035
Date Publish Online
2026-02-21