Microplastics Are Depositing in Blood-Forming Organs
NonToxCo Research
Science & Safety Team · 5/5/2026
Microplastics from food packaging, plastic containers, and synthetic fabrics don't just pass through. A 2026 review in Toxics synthesized evidence showing they deposit in blood cells and hematopoietic organs: the tissues that make your blood, including bone marrow and spleen. Once there, they disrupt the systems responsible for producing red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Where They End Up
The review consolidated evidence on how microplastics enter the human body through dietary intake and air inhalation, and then traced their distribution across organs. Evidence from animal and in vitro studies shows deposition in blood cells and hematopoietic-related organs. Once inside these tissues, micro- and nanoplastics disrupt hematopoietic function through multiple molecular mechanisms including oxidative stress and inflammation.
The researchers estimate daily intake and excretion rates and show that the cumulative deposition in blood-forming organs increases with ongoing exposure. Unlike some tissues, hematopoietic tissue produces new cells continuously, making ongoing toxic disruption particularly relevant to long-term health outcomes.
Where Your Daily Exposure Comes From
Two main routes: eating food that has been in contact with plastic (containers, packaging, plastic utensils) and breathing air containing plastic particles from synthetic textiles, carpets, and plastic products around you. Both routes contribute to accumulation in blood-forming organs over time.
The most direct swaps: replace plastic food containers with glass or stainless steel, replace plastic utensils and cutting boards with wood or stainless steel, and replace synthetic home textiles with natural fibers. Browse non-toxic kitchen alternatives to start with your food contact points, and non-toxic home essentials for the inhalation route.