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Microplastic entry into bloodstream via hemodialysis: A dual-simulation clinical study

Yao Deng1, Taoping Sun2, Zhenheng Long3

  • 1Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, China; Zhuhai Precision Medical Center, Zhuhai People's Hospital (The Affiliated Hospital of Beijing Institute of Technology, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University), Zhuhai, China.

Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
|April 9, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Hemodialysis significantly increases microplastic levels in patient blood, with common plastics like CPE and PTFE detected post-procedure. This suggests medical devices may contribute to microplastic exposure in patients undergoing dialysis.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Medical Technology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Microplastics are a growing health concern due to potential human ingestion via various routes.
  • Medical procedures, including hemodialysis using plastic components, may introduce microplastics into the bloodstream.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of hemodialysis on the abundance of microplastics in patient blood.
  • To identify specific types of microplastics present in blood before and after hemodialysis.

Main Methods:

  • Laser direct infrared (LDIR) imaging spectrometry was used to quantify microplastics.
  • Ultrapure water and blood samples from 9 hemodialysis patients were analyzed pre- and post-procedure.

Main Results:

  • Microplastics were detected in post-dialysis water samples, but not pre-dialysis.
  • Blood samples showed a significant increase in microplastic numbers post-hemodialysis (46.11 [56.22] vs. 96.11 [68.32], p = 0.027).
  • Specific plastics identified post-hemodialysis included chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and polyurethane (PU).

Conclusions:

  • Hemodialysis is associated with an increased level of microplastics entering the bloodstream.
  • The study did not find a direct linear correlation between microplastic levels and dialysis duration or total blood volume processed.
Keywords:
Health riskHemodialysisLaser direct infrared (LDIR) spectroscopyMicroplastic exposureNovel pathway

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