2025
How much microplastics is released from clothes and powder when washing. Frightening study results
Russian biologists from Tomsk State University (TSU) have established critical volumes of microplastic emissions when washing synthetic clothes using powder detergents. The study found that processing 7.7 kilograms of new fleece products releases an amount of polyester microfibers into the wastewater, equivalent to the mass of an empty one and a half liter plastic bottle. The results of the experiment were published by scientists from the TSU Center for Research on Microplastics in the Environment on August 26, 2025.
A scientific team led by the director of the Center for Microplastic Research, Julia Frank, conducted a series of experiments with new fleece polyester hoodies. The choice of material is due to the wide distribution of this type of synthetic fabrics in the textile industry and household use.
Experimental data demonstrated that primary washing of new products resulted in the release of 2.82 to 5.42 grams of polyethylene terephthalate microfibers per kilogram of textiles. In numerical terms, this corresponds to 9 to 15 million microplastic particles entering the sewage system in one washing cycle.
Julia Frank noted that in the process of studying the pollution of water bodies with microplastics, experts found a predominance of microparticles of various synthetic tissues. According to her, pollutants enter water bodies in various ways, including the results of household washing of synthetic clothes.
Comparative analysis showed a significant effect of detergents on microplastic release intensity. Washing without the use of powder compositions results in 1.7 to 1.9 times less polyester microfibers than washing powder treatment.
Repeated washing cycles show a significant reduction in microplastic particle release. After several treatments, the amount of microfibers released decreases tenfold, indicating stabilization of the process and removal of the weakest attached fibers.[1]
Chilling discovery: Microplastics clog brain vessels
An international team of researchers led by specialists from the Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences has discovered a new mechanism for the effects of microplastics on the human body - the smallest plastic particles are able to block the blood vessels of the brain, causing cognitive disorders and coordination of movements. The scientists found that microplastic fragments with a diameter of about 5 micrometers are captured by immune cells and form stable obstacles in the capillaries of the brain, which leads to a deterioration in the blood supply to nervous tissues and the development of symptoms comparable to microinsults. The results of the study are published in August 2025.
According to the Psy Post, microplastics are tiny fragments of plastic less than 5 millimeters in size, formed when larger plastic products are destroyed or released from synthetic clothing, packaging materials and consumer goods. These particles are found everywhere - from the ocean depths to the highlands.
Microplastics have already been identified in the blood, lungs, placenta and intestines of humans, but the mechanism of its effect on brain functions until recently remained unexplored. Of particular concern is the ability of nanoplastics - the smallest plastic particles - to cross the blood-brain barrier.
To clarify the effect of microplastics on brain activity, the researchers conducted an experiment in laboratory mice. The animals were injected with fluorescent-painted microplastic particles approximately 5 micrometers in diameter, corresponding to the size of the actual particles entering the human body.
Using two-photon microscopy, experts tracked the movement of plastic fragments along the circulatory system of the brain. The study showed that after entering the bloodstream, microplastics are rapidly absorbed by immune cells - neutrophils and macrophages.[2]
Proven: Nanoplastic breaks gut barriers and causes inflammation
The study, published in June 2025 in the journal Nature Communications, confirmed the negative effects of nanoplasty on the human body. Chinese molecular biologists have established that microparticles violate the integrity of the intestinal barrier and cause inflammatory processes. The effect is due to the impaired exchange of signaling molecules between microflora and epithelial cells, which can pose a systemic threat to health with prolonged exposure.
The discovery was made by a scientific group led by an assistant professor at Taiwan's Jiai Li Baohong University during observations of changes in the work of intestines laboratory mice. Scientists injected a large amount of polystyrene nanoparticles with a diameter of 100 nanometers into the digestive system of animals.
Researchers periodically sampled gut cells and microflora to track changes in their vital activity. Biologists noted that most of the previous papers examined the effects of plastic microparticles, whereas the effects of nanoplasty on the gut were investigated for the first time with such detail.
The measurements carried out showed that the accumulation of nanoparticles in the digestive system causes several critical changes in the characteristics of the microflora and the functioning of intestinal cells. The main mechanism of damage was a decrease in the production of two key proteins - mucin and ZO-1.
These proteins are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the protective barrier between the digestive system and the rest of the organs. Disruption of their synthesis leads to increased permeability of intestinal walls to pathogens and toxins.
The mechanism of action of nanoplasty lies in its ability to penetrate both intestinal cells and certain types of microflora bacteria. Once penetrated, the nanoparticles stimulate the active production of short RNA molecules that suppress mucin and ZO-1 synthesis.
Goblet cells of the intestine, which normally produce protective mucus, play a particularly active role in pathological processes. Among the bacteria, representatives of the families Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae turned out to be the most sensitive to the effects of nanoplasty.[3]
Microplastics rapidly accumulate in atherosclerosis-affected arteries and lead to stroke
Scientists from the United States have discovered the first evidence that microplastic particles are able to quickly accumulate inside arteries affected by atherosclerosis, which can significantly accelerate the development of serious diseases of the cardiovascular system and increase the risk of stroke. This was announced by the American Heart Study Association (AHA) in April 2025.
According to TASS, the discovery was made by a group of American doctors led by Professor of the University of New Mexico Matthew Campen when studying cholesterol plaques extracted from the carotid arteries of 48 patients who had a stroke, transient ischemic attack or temporary amaurosis. Their study continued the work of Italian scientists, who in 2024 for the first time revealed microplastic particles in similar growths in the arteries of patients.
To determine the effect of microplastics on the development of atherosclerosis, the researchers measured the number of particles in the carotid artery walls of three groups of people: stroke patients; people suffering from early forms of atherosclerosis; and healthy people of similar age. The findings showed that cholesterol plaques in people with atherosclerosis contained 16 times more plastic than in the arteries of healthy subjects. In stroke patients, the concentration of microplastics was 50 times higher than normal.
Brown University Professor Karen Furi noted that this is a very interesting and at the same time alarming discovery. Until now, scientists have not suggested that the accumulation of microplastics in the body may in any way affect the risk of stroke. Even if the mechanism of this connection is not yet clear, the very fact of its detection will create new approaches aimed at preventing strokes.[4]
2024: Boiling removes 90% microplastics from water
In late February 2024, Chinese scientists released the results of a study that suggests that simply boiling hard water leads to a significant improvement in its purity. It has been found that 80% to 90% of small and large microplastic particles can be removed during this process.
Nano- and microplastic particles are pieces of plastic, such as polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene, with diameters ranging from 0.1 to 150 microns. Their effects on people's health are still being studied, but researchers suspect they are harmful to humans.
The new study was attended by specialists from Jinan University. Scientists have found that high temperatures contribute to the formation of calcium carbonate on microplastic particles: this leads to their deposition on the walls of vessels in the form of scale. Boiling makes it possible to remove a significant proportion of plastic microparticles of all sizes from water. The efficiency of the process depends on the rigidity of the water: about 25% of plastic particles are deposited in soft water, while in hard water their concentration decreases up to 90%.
 | Boiling water has other advantages, such as killing bacteria and parasites and removing traces of heavy metals, Chinese experts say. |  |
Thus, the authors of the work believe, boiling can become the basis for creating inexpensive and fast methods of cleaning drinking water from plastic pollution. The World Health Organization (WHO) calls for developing research on the problem of microplastics and combating this type of pollution. Waste water treatment allows the removal of more than 90% of plastic microparticles from the effluent, with the most intensive removal taking place in the third stage of treatment, for example, during filtration. Using traditional drinking water treatment technologies, particles smaller than a micrometer can be removed.[5]
2023
Plastic chemicals found in Coca-Cola drinks and McDonald's burgers
In early January 2024, Consumer Reports, a nonprofit that publishes reviews and comparative tests of consumer products and services, published the results of a study that focuses on finding dangerous plastic chemicals in popular foods. Experts checked 85 products, in 84 of which harmful substances were found.
Bisphenols and phthalates can negatively affect the endocrine system by disrupting the production and regulation of hormones such as estrogen. A slight disturbance in hormone levels can lead to diseases such as, diabetes, obesity some species and. cancer infertility Although the human body is able to efficiently excrete bisphenols and phthalates, they can enter blood tissues as quickly as they are excreted. This raises serious concerns and the need to take measures to reduce risks to consumer health. Consumer Reports listed the products with the highest plastic content:
- Yoplait's original low-fat French vanilla;
- Ben & Jerry's vanilla ice cream;
- Wendy's chicken nuggets;
- the Burger King whopper;
- the original Cheerios by General Mills;
- Perdue - minced chicken breast;
- chopped Del Monte peaches.
In addition, phthalates were found in cardboard packaging of McDonald's dishes and plastic bottles of Coca-Cola. The study also showed that companies are working to improve the safety of their food products. Thus, Pizza Hut products contain significantly less plastic than a few years ago, according to a report published in early January 2024. The Consumer Reports article notes that 79% of food samples contained bisphenol A (BPA), which is used in plastic production. The authors of the article emphasize that the detected levels of phthalates did not exceed the limits set by American and European regulatory authorities.[6]
How microplastics penetrate all body systems and kill animals and humans
On August 24, 2023, American scientists from the University of Rhode Island released the results of a study saying that microplastics can penetrate all tissues of the body, killing animals and humans.
It is noted that plastics are among the most common pollutants on the planet. Microplastic elements enter the air, water bodies and eventually food chains around the world. Some plastic particles are so small that they can only be seen through a microscope. However, once in the body of mammals, they can cause significant harm to health.
In a new work led by Professor Jaime Ross, experts focused on the study of neurobehavioral effects and inflammatory reactions arising from the accumulation of microplastic particles in body tissues. Scientists have found that this causes changes in behavior, especially in older subjects.
Specifically, in experiments in mice, the researchers found that exposure to microplastics provokes both behavioral changes and changes in immune markers in liver and brain tissues. Rodents began to move and behave unusually, exhibiting behavior similar to dementia in humans. The researchers also found that particles accumulate in all organs, including the brain. And this creates an immediate threat to life.
| | Given that microplastics were delivered orally with drinking water in this study, its detection in tissues such as the gastrointestinal tract, which is a major part of the digestive system, or in the liver and kidneys, is expected. However, the detection of particles in the heart and lungs suggests that microplastics extend beyond the digestive system and likely enter the systemic bloodstream, Ross says.[7] | |
Notes
- ↑ TSU experts found out how much microplastics are released when washing synthetics
- ↑ Microplastics found to obstruct brain blood vessels in troubling neuroscience study
- ↑ Mechanism of intestinal damage in case of accumulation of nanoplasty in it is disclosed
- ↑ AHA: Microplastics accumulate rapidly in atherosclerosis-affected arteries
- ↑ Boiling tap water can remove 80 per cent of the microplastics in it
- ↑ The Plastic Chemicals Hiding in Your Food
- ↑ Microplastics infiltrate all systems of body, cause behavioral changes
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