2025-08-12 マサチューセッツ大学アマースト校
Detection, concentration and distribution of MNPs in different parts of the human body (a); number of concentrations (b) and concentration mass (c). Credit: Zhao et al., 10.1038/s44222-025-00335-0
<関連情報>
- https://www.umass.edu/news/article/how-bad-are-micro-and-nanoplastics-our-health-it-depends-their-concentrations-and-how
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s44222-025-00335-0
生物試料中のマイクロプラスチックとナノプラスチックの検出と特性評価 Detection and characterization of microplastics and nanoplastics in biological samples
Jian Zhao,Ruyi Lan,Hongmei Tan,Jianjun Wang,Yuanshuo Ma,Qiqing Chen,Fei Jiang,Zhenyu Wang & Baoshan Xing
Nature Reviews Bioengineering Published:DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44222-025-00335-0
Abstract
Plastic pollution from microplastics (1 μm–5 mm) and nanoplastics (<1 μm) is an emerging global threat. These particles have been detected in water, soil, atmospheric samples and even in naturally sampled organisms and human tissues/organs with potential ecological and health risks. However, most detection techniques are better suited for microplastic and nanoplastic (MNP) identification in ideal media (such as water) and face limitations when analysing biological samples. This issue must be addressed because the minimum sizes of MNPs found in organisms are often larger than those detected in water. In this Review, we discuss current progress in the detection, identification and analysis of MNPs in naturally sampled organisms and the human body. Moreover, we provide recommendations for how to improve the workflows of detection and labelling of MNPs in biological samples.
Key points
- Techniques for detecting, identifying, analysing and quantifying microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in water samples are more well developed compared with those used for measuring MNPs in biological samples.
- Strategies for digestion, separation, enrichment and detection of MNPs need to be optimized depending on the category of organism under investigation.
- MNPs have been detected in almost every organ/tissue in the human body but exposure pathways and the associated health risks are largely unknown.
- Labelling strategies need to be designed based on a full characterization of MNPs in natural organisms, including polymer types, shapes and surface functionality.
- Machine learning algorithms can greatly reduce the labour time and cost of MNP identification and characterization.
