Microplastics Found in Filtered Solutions Used for Medical IV Infusions

FRIDAY, March 21, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Microplastics appear to be present in filtered solutions used for medical intravenous infusions, with about 7,500 particles/L found in infusion solutions from polypropylene (PP) bottles filtered to limit particle contamination, according to a study published online Feb. 14 in Environment & Health.

Noting that intravenous infusion of microplastic particles (MPs) usually proceeds from plastic bottles, many of which are made of PP and are filtered to limit particle contamination, Tingting Huang, from Fudan University in Shanghai, and colleagues examined the MP content of filtrates using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy combined with scanning electron microscopy.

The researchers found that the number of PP particles in infusion solutions from PP bottles after filtering was significant (about 7,500 particles/L). The sizes of MPs ranged from 1 to 62 µm, with a median of about 8.5 µm. About 90 percent of particles ranged from 1 to 20 µm in size; about 60 percent ranged from 1 to 10 µm.

“Future research should focus on more direct toxicological studies to comprehensively assess the potential toxicity of MPs and their associated health risks,” the authors write. “These findings will provide a scientific basis for formulating appropriate policies and measures to mitigate the potential threats posed by MPs to human health.”

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