Microplastics in Air May Damage Lungs, Study Finds

Plastic isn’t just polluting oceans or piling up in landfills. It’s now showing up in the air we breathe and affecting our lungs in dangerous ways.

Scientists at the Medical University of Vienna have found that tiny plastic particles, commonly referred to as microplastics, in the air can enter healthy lung cells and trigger changes linked to cancer.

Plastic particles harming lung cells

“This is the first time we’ve clearly seen how microplastic can harm healthy lung tissue at the cellular level,” said Dr. Karin Schelch, lead author of the study. What was striking is that these cells had a reduced ability to repair DNA and were activating growth pathways at the same time.”

In a new study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, scientists show how microscopic plastic particles not only reach lung tissue but also trigger biological changes in healthy cells. These changes include DNA damage, oxidative stress, and early signals linked to cancer.

The study focused on polystyrene, a type of plastic widely used in food packaging, disposable cups, and takeout containers. The researchers looked at how micro- and nanoplastic particles, measuring just 0.00025 millimeters, interacted with both healthy and cancerous lung cells.

Healthy cells absorbed the plastic quickly. After exposure, they began to show several warning signs. DNA damage increased. Oxidative stress rose. The cells also activated signals that control cell growth and survival.

“These are all early indicators of cancer development,” said Schelch.

Cancer cells, in contrast, absorbed fewer particles and showed fewer changes.

“The fact that healthy cells are more affected than cancer cells is alarming,” said Dr. Balazs Döme, co-author of the study. “Even short exposure seems enough to start harmful reactions in non-cancerous tissue.”

Cells fight plastic particle stress

The study also revealed how healthy cells reacted to the plastic stress. Their defence systems became active. Antioxidant pathways turned on, suggesting the cells were trying to protect themselves from damage.

“We observed the activation of antioxidant defence systems,” said Büsra Ernhofer, another member of the research team. “This tells us the cells recognise the plastic as a threat.”

The researchers say their work is a warning about the long-term health effects of microplastics in the environment.

“These particles are not just in oceans or rivers. They are in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat,” said Döme. “Now we know they are also reaching our lungs and causing changes linked to disease.”

Until now, little was known about how airborne microplastics interact with lung tissue. The study provides the first direct evidence that these particles can enter healthy lung cells and start damaging them in ways that may lead to cancer.

Plastic pollution is a health threat

Schelch said the findings show a need for urgent action.

“We need more research that connects environmental science and cancer biology,” she said. “But we also need immediate steps to reduce plastic waste and limit human exposure.”

A team from the Department of Thoracic Surgery and the Comprehensive Cancer Centre at MedUni Vienna conducted the study. It included Karin Schelch, Balazs Döme, and Büsra Ernhofer.

Microplastics and nanoplastics come from common materials, plastic bottles, food wrappers, textiles, and tire dust. Once they break down, they become airborne and can travel long distances.

Studies have already found plastic in rain, soil, blood, and even human brains. This new research adds the lungs to that list, and shows that the damage may start silently, at the cellular level.

“We are just beginning to understand the risks,” said Ernhofer. “But our findings suggest that plastic pollution is not just an environmental problem. It’s a human health issue too.”

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