Polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene microplastic bioaccumulation in human blood and cancerous tissues in...

Due to poor waste management and excessive plastic consumption, Algeria faces an escalating concern over plastic pollution, particularly microplastics (MPs). This pioneering study provides the first baseline assessment of MPs in human biological samples from Jijel Province, Algeria. MPs were detected and characterized in blood samples and cancer tissues (breast, colon, and rectal) using organic digestion, density separation, and filtration. More than 220 MPs (100-200 µm) were identified in cancer tissues, averaging 25 particles/gram. Blood samples contained 172 MPs (50-300 µm), averaging 3 particles/gram. Agglomerated microspheres and fibers predominated in both matrices. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP) as major polymers in approximately 44% of samples analyzed. Microparticles were observed in DNA extraction solutions; however, their relationship to genomic material remains unconfirmed and requires advanced co-localization techniques. These findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive investigations into human exposure to MPs and their potential long-term health implications in North Africa.