Clinical trial · Observational
Microplastics in the Human Respiratory System
Detection and Analysis of Microplastic Subtypes in the Human Respiratory System.
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
Environmental pollution from plastics has become a significant global issue, with microplastics-tiny particles resulting from plastic degradation-being increasingly detected in various environments, including aquatic ecosystems, soil, and air. These particles can enter the human body through ingestion or inhalation. Despite growing concerns, little is known about the prevalence and types of microplastics in human lungs. Some studies suggest that microplastics may negatively impact respiratory function and lead to lung diseases. Hypothetically, they could cause inflammation, metabolic disorders, and contribute to lung cancer development. However, research is still in its early stages, and conclusive evidence about the mechanisms linking microplastics to negative health effects is lacking. This study aims to quantify and characterize microplastics in the lung parenchyma and lymph nodes of patients with lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. Tissue samples will be collected during surgeries, and microplastic particles will be detected using FTIR microspectroscopy. The research may contribute to a better understanding of the role of microplastics in the development of respiratory diseases.
Conditions
Conditions (3)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lung Cancer (NSCLC) | Malignant Lung Neoplasm | CURATED_EXACT | 0.85 |
| Lung Transplantation | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| Microplastics | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
Interventions
Interventions (0)
Data not yet available
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (0)
[]Primary outcomes (1)
- measure
- Number of lung microplastics.
- timeFrame
- Time of surgery (Single time point; microplastic measurement is performed on a lung sample taken during surgery).
- description
- Number of microplastics particles detected per sample of lung tissue or regional lymph nodes obtained from patients during surgery.
Secondary outcomes (1)
- measure
- Types of lung microplastics.
- timeFrame
- Time of surgery (Single time point; microplastic measurement is performed on a lung sample taken during surgery).
- description
- Types of microplastics particles detected per sample of lung tissue or regional lymph nodes obtained from patients during surgery.
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: * patients undergoing surgery for lung cancer, emphysema, interstitial lung diseases, or other respiratory conditions, * patients undergoing lung transplantation (lungs removed from transplant recipients), * age 18 years or older, * ability to provide informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * patients with a history of recent or ongoing chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation therapy, * inability or unwillingness to provide informed consent, * previous lung surgeries, * insufficient tissue or blood samples available for analysis due to technical or procedural reasons.
References
Publications (4)
- BACKGROUNDZhao J, Zhang H, Shi L, Jia Y, Sheng H. Detection and quantification of microplastics in various types of human tumor tissues. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2024 Sep 15;283:116818. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116818. Epub 2024 Jul 30. PMID 39083862
- BACKGROUNDField DT, Green JL, Bennett R, Jenner LC, Sadofsky LR, Chapman E, Loubani M, Rotchell JM. Microplastics in the surgical environment. Environ Int. 2022 Dec;170:107630. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107630. Epub 2022 Nov 13. PMID 36403328
- BACKGROUNDDanopoulos E, Jenner LC, Twiddy M, Rotchell JM. Microplastic Contamination of Seafood Intended for Human Consumption: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Environ Health Perspect. 2020 Dec;128(12):126002. doi: 10.1289/EHP7171. Epub 2020 Dec 23. PMID 33355482
- BACKGROUNDJenner LC, Rotchell JM, Bennett RT, Cowen M, Tentzeris V, Sadofsky LR. Detection of microplastics in human lung tissue using muFTIR spectroscopy. Sci Total Environ. 2022 Jul 20;831:154907. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154907. Epub 2022 Mar 29. PMID 35364151