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Scientists have found that microplastics can interfere with the body’s ability to fight infections, as tiny plastic particles may accumulate inside immune cells and disrupt their function. The findings were reported by Live Science.
According to the research, microplastics can be absorbed by key immune cells such as macrophages. Once inside, the particles may effectively “clog” these cells, reducing their ability to destroy bacteria and other pathogens.
Macrophages normally act as one of the body’s first lines of defense, engulfing and breaking down harmful microbes through a process known as Phagocytosis. However, when microplastic particles accumulate inside them, this defensive process becomes less effective.
Researchers warn that the buildup of microplastics in immune cells could weaken immune responses, potentially making people more vulnerable to infections and slowing recovery.
Microplastics—tiny fragments of plastic typically smaller than five millimeters—have been detected in various parts of the human body in recent years, including blood, lungs, and even the placenta, raising growing concerns among scientists about their long-term health effects.
