STATE OF THE ART PAPER
Methods for detecting microplastics in human tissues, with a focus on vascular and intravascular specimens
1
Department of Vascular Surgery, General University Hospital of Patras, Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece
2
Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Westpfalz Klinikum, Kaiserslautern, Germany
3
Second Department of Surgery, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
4
Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Greece
5
School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece
Submission date: 2026-06-03
Final revision date: 2026-07-27
Acceptance date: 2026-08-05
Publication date: 2026-09-28
Corresponding author
Arch Med Sci Atheroscler Dis 2026;11(1):174-189
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Due to increasing environmental contamination resulting from human activity, micro- and nanoplastics are becoming increasingly detected within human biological systems. Human exposure occurs primarily through the digestive and respiratory tracts, as well as through dermal contact. In recent years, several studies have identified micro- and nanoplastics not only at these sites of exposure but also within internal human tissues, including the liver, placenta, myocardium, blood, thrombi, and vascular specimens. These findings suggest that such particles may cross biological barriers and disseminate through the circulatory system to distant organs and tissues. At present, however, there is no standardized method for the detection and characterization of micro- and nanoplastics in human tissues. This review summarizes the currently available analytical methods used for the detection of micro- and nanoplastics in human tissues, with particular emphasis on vascular and intravascular specimens, and discusses their applicability, advantages, limitations, and methodological challenges across different biological matrices.
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