Microplastics turning up in human stool

(Reuters Health) – Tiny bits of plastic may be getting into our bodies via the air we breathe and the food we eat, a new study suggests.

Researchers who examined stool samples from eight people from diverse geographic locations found that all contained bits of plastic, according to a report in Annals of Internal Medicine.

“This small prospective case series showed that various microplastics were present in human stool, and no sample was free of microplastics,” wrote the team of scientists, led by Dr. Philipp Schwabl of the Medical University of Vienna. “Larger studies are needed to validate these findings. Moreover, research on the origins of microplastics ingested by humans, potential intestinal absorption, and effects on human health is urgently needed.”

The researchers did not respond to an emailed request for an interview.

To get an idea of how widespread plastic ingestion might be, Schwabl and his colleagues rounded up eight volunteers who were willing to keep a…