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“It Is Worrying”: Experts React After Microplastics Discovered In Bone Tissue
Interview With ExpertMicroplastics had already been found in human blood, lungs, placentae, and even the brain, but researchers reviewing decades of studies revealed something even more unsettling: tiny plastic fragments appeared inside human bone tissue.
The meta-analysis immediately set off alarms across the health community, especially because bones and bone marrow manage essential immune and blood-forming functions. Now, experts told Bored Panda that this discovery exposes a major gap in our understanding of how deeply plastic pollution has permeated the human body.
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What researchers found in bone tissue left experts divided, worried, and demanding answers
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The new meta-analysis reviewed existing research on how microplastics interact with human bones, and the authors didn’t hide their concern.
“Improving quality of life and reducing the risk of bone complications, such as fractures, is a priority in healthcare. We already know that practices such as physical exercise, a balanced diet, and pharmacological treatments contribute significantly to this.
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“Although osteometabolic diseases are relatively well understood, there’s a gap in our knowledge regarding the influence of microplastics on the development of these diseases,” researcher Rodrigo Bueno de Oliveira explained in the original report.
The review noted that microplastics “were recently detected in human bone tissue,” and that in laboratory settings, they affected cell viability, gene expression, and inflammatory responses, all processes crucial to bone health, according to Yahoo News.
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Because bone marrow produces red and white blood cells, even small disruptions could carry big consequences. As the researchers wrote, experimental animal studies showed that microplastics ingestion “disturbs gut microbiota and reduces white blood cell counts, suggesting compromised bone marrow function.”
To understand how this discovery fits into the broader scientific landscape, Bored Panda reached out to medical experts, and the responses ranged from alarmed to skeptical.
Experts told Bored Panda the findings point to a systemic issue, though others warn the public may be panicking over flawed science
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Dr. Gail Clifford, M.D., a Medical Consultant at ARRC LED, told Bored Panda that the finding should serve as a wake-up call about how deeply microplastics may be circulating within the body.
“Microplastics likely enter our bodies through ingestion via our food or inhalation from the environment. Once they’ve entered the body, they are absorbed by the gut and enter the bloodstream, then they circulate within the blood until they become trapped in tissues with porous capillaries such as bone marrow or taken up by immune cells,” she said.
She added that although many microplastic particles are tiny, their persistence raises concern:
“Laboratory studies using animal models suggest that microplastics can trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and disrupt bone remodeling and the formation of blood cells, but human data remains limited.”
Dr. Clifford emphasized that microplastics being found in bone fits into a larger pattern: researchers have already identified plastics in the blood, placenta, and brain.
“The ability of these plastics to reach and embed in the skeletal system signals that plastic pollution is a systemic issue that affects the whole body. This warrants urgent attention to environmental and public health safeguards.”
But not everyone agreed that this discovery is cause for panic.
Image credits: Getty Images/Unsplash (Not the actual photo)
Chris DeArmitt, PhD, Founder of the Plastics Research Council, and one of the world’s most frequently cited independent microplastics experts, told Bored Panda that the science actually shows that microplastics pose little to no threat.
“There is a general perception that microplastics is a new, unstudied threat. In actuality we have over 1000 studies spanning 50 years and the consensus of scientists including the FDA is that there is no threat from microplastics because exposure is extremely low and because they are non-toxic,” he said.
He further argued that many scare-headline microplastics studies have used flawed methodology or suffered contamination.
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“We breathe in millions of dust particles all the time… plastics are non-toxic. Lifetime consumption of microplastics is a fraction of one gram and 99.7% passes right through us.”
According to Dr. DeArmitt, plastic particles found in bodily tissues aren’t necessarily proof of harm, and may even be misidentified dust.
His conclusion: “While others spread scare stories for profit, the PRC nonprofit scientists work without a penny of pay to share peer-reviewed science verbatim.”
Health and detox specialists still argued that the discovery highlights a bigger problem: the world is drowning in plastic, and human bodies are, too
Daniel Powers, Director of Digital Marketing at Utzy Naturals, told Bored Panda the presence of microplastics in bone suggests plastics may be crossing biological barriers once thought impenetrable.
“The discovery of microplastic particles within bone tissue is deeply concerning and points to how pervasive these materials have become… The science isn’t definitive yet, but the broader concern is that these particles may not be inert once they reach deep biological tissues.”
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Instead of quick detox hacks, he urged long-term support for the body’s natural defense systems:
“When we talk about detoxifying from microplastics, the goal isn’t to “flush them out” directly, since the body doesn’t have a simple mechanism for that. Instead, the focus should be on supporting the systems that handle oxidative stress and toxin clearance, primarily the liver, gut, and cellular antioxidant defenses.”
He highlighted approaches like boosting glutathione activity, protecting the gut lining, and maintaining hydration and fiber intake.
His takeaway is simple. “The body’s own systems, when functioning optimally, are remarkably capable of adapting and defending against the growing environmental burden we face today.”
Netizens shared their thoughts on the idea of microplastics in human bones on social media
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