Can Plasmapheresis Really Reduce Microplastics and Nanoplastics in the Blood? What You Should Know

Microplastics and nanoplastics, collectively referred to as MNPs, are small plastic particles that may be manufactured at a small size or formed through the fragmentation and degradation of larger plastic products in the environment. In general, microplastics refer to plastic particles ranging from approximately 1 micrometer (µm) to less than 5 millimeters, while nanoplastics refer to particles smaller than 1 micrometer. However, the size criteria for nanoplastics may vary depending on the definitions used by individual studies and organizations.

Because of their extremely small size and physical properties, some MNPs can cross the body’s biological barriers, enter the bloodstream, and spread to different tissues. Plastic particles or components have been reported in various parts of the human body, including the gastrointestinal tract, lung tissue, placenta, and blood vessel walls. Researchers have also investigated their potential to cross the blood–brain barrier, an important barrier between the bloodstream and the central nervous system.

Humans can be exposed to MNPs through several routes, particularly by consuming contaminated food and water and inhaling tiny airborne plastic particles. Some very small particles may cross the biological barriers of the digestive and respiratory systems before entering the lymphatic system and bloodstream. They may then spread to tissues or organs throughout the body.

A 2022 study by Leslie and colleagues analyzed blood samples from 22 healthy volunteers and detected several types of plastic polymer components, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), styrene polymers, and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The mean total concentration of plastic detected was approximately 1.6 µg/mL. This study provides important evidence supporting the possibility that components of plastic particles can enter the human bloodstream. However, it did not directly identify the routes through which the particles entered the body, and its sample size was small. Further research is therefore needed (Leslie et al., 2022).

Although reducing exposure to MNPs can be challenging because these particles are present in food, water, and air, exposure can be minimized through measures such as:

• Avoid heating food or eating hot food in plastic containers that are not designed for high temperatures.

• Reduce the use of disposable plastic or foam containers. Choose glass, stainless steel, or ceramic containers for food and beverages to minimize unnecessary contact with plastic.

• Avoid using plastic bottles or containers that are deteriorating, cracked, scratched, or have been exposed to high temperatures for prolonged periods.

• Choose cooking utensils carefully. Avoid plastic materials and use stainless steel, glass, wood, or ceramic alternatives.

• Clean your home regularly to reduce dust, including plastic fibers from textiles, furniture, and other materials.

• Thoroughly wash ingredients, vegetables, and fruit before eating.

The human body has mechanisms that can eliminate some MNPs through feces. Microplastics have also been detected in human urine. However, the ability to eliminate plastic particles depends on several factors, including their size, shape, polymer type, surface properties, and location within the body. These factors may make nanoplastics more difficult to eliminate than larger microplastics.

Although the body can naturally excrete some plastic particles, there is currently no clear evidence that it can completely eliminate MNPs remaining in the bloodstream or tissues. This has led to growing interest in medical approaches that filter and separate certain substances from the blood. One such approach is plasmapheresis. Particles with characteristics consistent with microplastics and nanoplastics have been reported in material separated during the procedure, and preliminary human data suggest that blood microplastic levels may decrease afterward.

However, this procedure is only a supplementary approach to help separate and reduce certain unwanted substances circulating in the bloodstream. It is not a method for directly eliminating MNPs or treating their effects. Further research is needed to evaluate its effectiveness, safety, and long-term health effects.

Emerging human research suggests that double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP), a two-stage plasma filtration procedure, may have the potential to reduce some MNPs circulating in the bloodstream. However, research in this area remains at an early stage, and larger studies with long-term follow-up are needed.

In a 2022 study, Scholkmann and Gatti examined material filtered from plasma during DFPP using FE-SEM/EDX and found particles ranging from nanometers to micrometers in size in the separated material. These findings provide preliminary evidence that small particles can be found in material separated from plasma during DFPP. However, the study did not specifically confirm that all detected particles were microplastics or nanoplastics (Scholkmann & Gatti, 2022).

In 2025, Bornstein and colleagues analyzed material separated from plasma during double-filtration therapeutic apheresis (INUSpheresis) in 21 patients using ATR-FT-IR. They detected substances with characteristics consistent with several polymers, including polyamide-6 and polyurethane. These findings support the possibility that some particles resembling microplastics and nanoplastics may be filtered and separated from plasma. However, the study did not measure blood plastic particle levels before and after treatment, so it could not determine the extent to which DFPP reduced microplastics and nanoplastics in the bloodstream (Bornstein et al., 2025).

In 2026, Bornstein and colleagues investigated changes in blood microplastics and nanoplastics before and after DFPP using several analytical methods. Polyethylene (PE) decreased in all four participants assessed using Py-GC-MS, while polyvinyl chloride (PVC) decreased in three of the four. In another four participants assessed using Nile Red staining combined with flow cytometry, the number of detectable particles decreased by an average of approximately 70% after DFPP. However, this method could not specifically confirm that all detected particles were microplastics or nanoplastics. The sample size was also small, and the different polymers did not all show the same pattern of reduction. It is therefore not yet possible to conclude that DFPP reduces all types of plastic to the same extent or completely removes plastic particles from the body (Bornstein et al., 2026).

Overall, human data support the possibility that plasmapheresis (DFPP) may help reduce some microplastics circulating in the bloodstream. However, it remains unclear how long these effects last or whether the procedure can also reduce plastic particles distributed or accumulated in other tissues and organs. Evidence concerning nanoplastics remains relatively limited because these particles are extremely small and difficult to measure.

Anyone interested in plasmapheresis (DFPP) should understand that its effectiveness in reducing MNPs and its long-term safety for this purpose remain under investigation. It should therefore be considered a health-supporting approach rather than a treatment for disease. A physician should assess the indications and develop an appropriate, individualized treatment plan.

Although evidence is beginning to emerge regarding the potential of plasmapheresis (DFPP) to help reduce plastic particles circulating in the bloodstream, several considerations and limitations should be taken into account:

• There are currently no standard medical guidelines recommending plasmapheresis for the general population primarily to remove microplastics and nanoplastics from the bloodstream.

• Evidence concerning nanoplastics remains relatively limited, particularly regarding their measurement and the assessment of how effectively they can be removed from the body, because these particles are extremely small.

• A reduction in blood plastic particle levels does not mean that all plastic particles have been eliminated from the body, as plasmapheresis mainly acts on substances circulating in the blood. However, some substances accumulated in tissues throughout the body may later move back into the bloodstream and could potentially be removed during subsequent sessions. Plasmapheresis (DFPP) may therefore offer another approach to reducing certain unwanted substances circulating in the body.

• The duration of the results remains unclear. Further research is needed to determine how long blood plastic particle levels remain reduced after plasmapheresis and whether they may rise again later. Results may vary between individuals depending on daily habits, lifestyle, and environmental exposures.

• Some temporary side effects may occur after plasmapheresis, such as low blood pressure. The clinic regularly measures blood pressure and monitors symptoms. Low blood sugar may occur because metabolism is stimulated during the procedure. Patients are advised to eat before treatment, and the clinic keeps glucose available if needed. Bruising or swelling may occur at the needle insertion site, and some patients may feel tired from lying in the same position for an extended period. These symptoms generally improve gradually with adequate rest and care according to the physician’s advice.