10/03/2025
A groundbreaking study has raised urgent concerns about IV bags, one of the most essential tools in modern hospitals. Researchers discovered that infusion fluids may contain thousands of microplastic particles per litre, potentially entering a patient’s bloodstream during routine treatments. The majority of these particles are polypropylene, the same plastic widely used in medical packaging, with sizes ranging from 1 to 62 micrometres small enough to circulate throughout the human body.
This finding builds on previous discoveries of microplastics in human blood, lungs, and even placentas. Unlike food or water, where plastics are filtered by the digestive system, IV infusions bypass those barriers, delivering microplastics directly into circulation. While scientists have yet to fully map out the long-term consequences, possible risks include chronic inflammation, buildup in organs, and cellular stress that could impair normal function.
The dilemma underscores a hidden cost of single-use plastics in healthcare. Hospitals depend on disposable equipment to prevent infections and save lives, yet this safety measure may introduce new risks at the microscopic level. The study doesn’t call for abandoning IV bags but rather for urgent innovation in safer medical materials and stricter monitoring of microplastic exposure in patients.
Source / Credits: Study findings on microplastics in infusion fluids; research on microplastics in human blood, lungs, and placentas (Springer Nature, Environmental Science & Technology).
