Medical infusion bags have been found to release microplastics, according to a recent study published in the journal Environment & Health. These microplastics, ranging from 1 to 62 micrometers in size, are present in the filtered solutions used for medical intravenous (IV) infusions. The researchers estimate that a single 8.4-ounce (250-milliliter) bag of infusion fluid could deliver thousands of plastic particles directly into a person’s bloodstream.
In clinical settings, IV infusions are commonly packaged in individual plastic pouches and are used to deliver water, electrolytes, nutrients, or medication to patients. The base of these infusions is a saline solution containing filtered water and salt to match the content of human blood. Previous research from the 1970s suggested that IV fluid bags could contain solid particles, but few studies have investigated the composition of these particles.
Researchers Liwu Zhang, Ventsislav Kolev Valev, and their team suspected that these particles could be microplastics shed from the plastic bags themselves. To investigate this, they analyzed the types and amounts of particles in commercial IV fluid bags. The team purchased two different brands of 8.4-ounce bags of IV saline solution and filtered the contents to capture microscopic particles. They found that both brands of saline contained microplastic particles made from polypropylene, the same material as the bags, indicating that the bags shed microplastics into the solutions.
The researchers estimated that each bag of infusion fluid could introduce approximately 7,500 microplastics into the bloodstream. For treatments like dehydration or abdominal surgery, which may require multiple IV bags, the number of microplastics delivered could increase significantly. The team recommends storing IV infusion bags away from ultraviolet light and heat to reduce microplastic shedding and suggests using micrometer-level filtration systems to remove the particles during infusion.
While there are currently no clinical studies assessing the health risks of microplastic exposure, the researchers believe their findings will help inform policies and measures to mitigate potential threats to human health posed by microplastics. This study sheds light on a previously overlooked pathway for microplastic exposure and underscores the need for further research in this area.
For more information, the study “MPs Entering Human Circulation through Infusions: A Significant Pathway and Health Concern” can be found in the journal Environment & Health. The research was conducted by Tingting Huang and colleagues.
This article was originally published on MedicalXpress on March 11, 2025.
