Investigating the presence of microplastics in human bone marrow
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the presence of microplastics in human bone marrow samples taken from adult patients.
IRAS ID
358848
Contact name
Marios Tsoutsoukis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Lincoln
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Research Question: Are microplastics present in bone marrow?
Background: In related published studies (Leonard et al. 2024) microplastics were identified in patient blood. There is currently no information regarding the transport of these microplastics around the body. In this study, the presence of microplastics in bone marrow will be investigated. This finding is relevant because microplastics represent a pool of leachate chemicals that are known to be toxic including carcinogenic and endocrine disrupting in human cells. Bone marrow cells are potentially therefore vulnerable to damage from microplastics and their leachates.
Aims/objectives: To establish if microplastics are present in bone marrow samples. To characterise any plastic polymers, particle sizes and shapes present. To use chemical characterisation methods to confirm the plastic polymer type using spectroscopy.Methods: Bone marrow will be analysed using our published methodology. This involves digestion and filtration onto anodiscs and then micro FTIR spectroscopy. Please see the pdf of our published paper for the detail. In addition, Raman and SEM equipment are available to analyse the same particles for validation purposes. Approximately 2 mL of bone marrow (where possible using remaining material) for each sample will be obtained. This value is chosen because it has been demonstrated that it is possible to detect microplastics in 2mL of blood. We intend to analyse N=10 samples as a proof of concept study.
Timelines:
It will take approximately 3 months to analyse approx 10 samples based on our previous research experience.Impact:
If microplastics are present in bone marrow, this has health implications. The data is part of a PhD thesis, will be published, and we will be seeking funding for a larger scale study which would include biological effects markers analysis in collaboration with the clinician and biomedical scientists who use cell/tissue culture approaches to determine potential mechanistic causes of damage.REC name
Wales REC 5
REC reference
26/WA/0081
Date of REC Opinion
17 Mar 2026
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion