A new study has shown that a person can inhale more than 70,000 microplastic particles per day indoors — significantly more than previously thought. Moreover, most of these particles are so small that they can penetrate deep into the lungs.

Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. Its microparticles enter the human body not only through food and water but also through the air.

Researchers from the University of Toulouse (France) decided to find out how much plastic dust we inhale daily. They analyzed 16 air samples from homes and cars using Raman spectroscopy, a method that allows for the identification of microplastic concentrations.

The results were alarming: in homes, the average concentration was 528 microparticles per cubic meter, and in cars — as much as 2,238 particles. Of these, 94% were smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter, allowing them to penetrate deep into lung tissue.

Based on this data, the researchers calculated that an adult inhales approximately 71,000 microplastic particles daily indoors, of which 68,000 are smaller than 10 micrometers.

“The concentration we discovered is 100 times higher than previous estimates,” the authors of the study noted. “People spend about 90% of their time indoors — at home, work, shops, or in transport — and during all that time, they are unknowingly exposed to microplastic particles.”

It is still unclear how exactly these particles affect the human body, but scientists believe the consequences are likely negative. Recent studies have linked them to an increased risk of certain cancers, infertility, strokes, and other serious health conditions.

Further research is needed to fully understand the biological impact of microplastic particles and to find ways to reduce their concentration in the air.

The results of the study were published in the journal PLOS One.