Health. Microplastics: What if the air in your home was 100 times more contaminated than you thought?

The fine particles in our homes and cars could be much more concentrated than previously thought.

Logically, according to a French study published on July 30 in the review PLOS One , the number of microparticles entering our lungs is probably much greater than previously believed.

Previous research has shown that microplastics remained suspended in the air, indoors and outdoors.

These microparticles can enter our lungs, causing serious health risks (oxidative stress, effect on the immune system, damage to organs, etc.).

What's new in this study? Researchers from the University of Toulouse focused on PM10, fine particles with a diameter equal to or less than 10 micrometers and more likely to penetrate the lungs than larger particles.

They analyzed 16 samples from their own cars and homes.

94% of particles detected are PM10 or less

Results? The median concentration of microplastics was 528 particles per cubic meter in their apartment, and 2,238 in their car. Ninety-four percent of the particles detected were smaller than 10 micrometers.

Scientists were thus able to estimate that an adult inhaled 3,200 microplastic particles of 10 to 300 micrometers and 68,000 particles of 1 to 10 micrometers per day, i.e., for the latter, 100 times more than previous estimates.

According to the researchers, quoted in a press release, these results reveal that “Indoor air is a major and previously underestimated route of exposure to the inhalation of particulate microplastics.”

They add: “Deep in our lungs, microplastics release toxic additives that reach our blood and cause multiple diseases.”

Various studies have previously shown that Microplastics accumulate in the brain, lungs, placenta, liver, kidneys and bone marrow.

Source : Yakovenko N, Pérez-Serrano L, Segur T, Hagelskjaer O, Margenat H, Le Roux G, et al. (2025) Human exposure to PM10 microplastics in indoor air. PLoS One 20(7): e0328011. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0328011