Inhaled Microplastics Impair Lung Immunity and Spread to Organs

 Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola           July 15, 2025

 

         Story at-a-glance

·    Inhaling microplastics disrupts your lung’s immune defenses within 24 hours by disabling macrophages, the cells that normally clear out pathogens and waste

·    Once inhaled, plastic particles travel beyond your lungs and accumulate in your liver, brain, kidneys, and colon, raising your risk for inflammation and chronic disease

·    Your body’s immune cells cannot break down microplastics and instead hold onto them, causing ongoing immune dysfunction and toxic buildup

·    Researchers are now working to identify early warning signs of microplastic-induced lung damage, including biomarkers that signal rising cancer risk

·    You can lower your daily exposure by filtering your air and water, switching to plastic-free kitchen tools and balancing related hormonal disruption with natural progesterone if needed

You breathe in thousands of particles each day, including dust, pollen, and fumes, but one of the most dangerous is something you can’t see, taste, or feel: microplastics. These microscopic fragments, shed from synthetic clothing, packaging, and polluted air, have become a constant part of the air around you. Whether you're indoors or out, you're inhaling them with every breath.

What makes this especially concerning is how little attention this invisible threat gets. You won’t notice symptoms right away. There’s no cough, no wheeze, no obvious irritation to warn you something’s wrong. But inside your lungs, a much quieter breakdown is happening — one that impacts how your body defends itself, how it manages inflammation and how it responds to everyday pathogens.

Over time, this silent overload of plastic waste builds up in your immune system and starts to affect organs far beyond your lungs. If you’ve been struggling with fatigue, strange inflammatory symptoms or issues that no one seems able to explain, microplastic exposure could be one piece of the puzzle. The latest research points to a disturbing reality: these plastic particles aren’t just building up in your body; they’re interfering with the very cells meant to protect you.

Tiny Plastics Shut Down Your Lung’s Defense System Fast

A study presented at the 2025 American Thoracic Society International Conference, led by Adam Soloff of the University of Pittsburgh, explored what happens when you breathe in microplastics — tiny particles shed from synthetic clothing, packaging, and polluted air.¹

The research focused on pulmonary macrophages, a type of immune cell in your lungs that normally clears out bacteria, toxins, and dead tissue. These cells are essential to your respiratory health because they keep inflammation in check and protect you from infection.

•Even short exposure causes major immune suppression — The study exposed mice to microplastics through inhalation and also tested the effects of different particle sizes and concentrations on cultured macrophages in the lab. Within just 24 hours, the macrophages were no longer able to perform the basic function of surrounding and digesting harmful invaders.

According to Soloff, “I was really surprised to see that not only did the macrophages struggle to break down the plastics in vitro, but macrophages in the lung retained these particles over time as well.”²

•The plastic didn’t just stay in the lungs — Researchers found that after inhalation, microplastic fragments migrated to other major organs. Trace levels of these particles showed up in the liver, spleen, colon and even in the brain and kidneys. This means the plastics you breathe don’t stay in your lungs. They spread through your entire body, increasing your risk of disease far beyond your respiratory system.

•Plastic exposure caused lingering, not temporary, immune damage — Macrophages didn’t recover their function on their own. Instead, they held onto the plastic particles, which interfered with their normal job of clearing out cellular waste and infectious particles. When those functions are impaired, your risk of chronic inflammation rises sharply, and with it, the risk of tissue damage and cancer.

Your Immune System Holds Onto Microplastics, Spreading the Damage

When macrophages tried to process the microplastic particles, they failed to break them down. These particles aren’t biodegradable, and the cells became overloaded and dysfunctional. The researchers were surprised by the degree of impairment. The longer the macrophages retained the plastics, the more their immune function declined.

•Immune system’s cleanup process disrupted by microplastics — Phagocytosis is your immune system’s cleanup process. It’s how your cells grab, engulf, and digest harmful invaders. Disrupting this one action disables your ability to mount a defense against everyday threats like airborne bacteria, viruses, and pollutants. When this happens in your lungs, inflammation builds, pathogens linger and healing slows.

•Systemic effects of microplastics could explain widespread inflammation — The study revealed that the body not only fails to remove inhaled plastic but actually distributes it through the bloodstream to sensitive tissues. This helps explain rising rates of inflammatory diseases that don't always have a clear origin. Because plastic particles resist breakdown and removal, the damage accumulates over time.

•Macrophages are central to maintaining lung health — These immune cells act as environmental sensors, waste removers and regulators of inflammation. Without their proper function, the lungs can’t stay clean. This leads to persistent irritation, tissue damage and an increased risk of disease.

•Researchers now aim to use this data to develop early warning tools — The next step is to examine lung tissue from human patients to confirm the presence of plastic particles. The research team hopes to identify biomarkers to detect early signs of microplastic-induced lung damage and cancer risk. That way, people who are unknowingly exposed could be screened earlier and take proactive steps to protect their health.

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Use an Air Filter and Ditch Plastic to Stop the Damage at Its Source

You’re not powerless against airborne microplastics. Once you understand how they infiltrate your lungs and disrupt your immune system, the next step is to stop the exposure at its root. That means making small but strategic shifts in your environment, especially where you live, breathe, eat, and sleep.

Every move you make to limit contact with plastic particles helps lighten the burden on your lungs, immune system and every organ downstream. I’ve laid out five specific changes that target your biggest sources of exposure and give your body a better shot at protecting itself.

1.Upgrade your air filter so your lungs stop doing all the work — If you live near traffic, manufacturing, or even just wear synthetic clothes indoors, you’re inhaling plastic fibers. Invest in a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifier that specifically filters microplastics and ultrafine dust.

Place it in your bedroom and main living space. These are the areas where you breathe the most. If you already have respiratory symptoms or chronic inflammation, this is one of the fastest ways to lower your internal plastic load.

2.Switch to a water filter that removes microplastics, and ditch plastic bottles for good — Drinking water, whether from the tap or in bottled form, is a constant source of microplastic ingestion. Choose a filter that’s tested for microplastic removal, not just heavy metals and other contaminants. If you have hard water, boiling it first before filtering helps break down microplastic fragments and improves filtration.³ Use glass bottles for storage and drinking.

3.Stop heating food in plastic; it’s contaminating every bite — Plastic wrap and takeout containers release microplastics and plastic chemicals directly into your meals when heated. If you’re storing leftovers, skip the plastic containers and grab a glass or stainless-steel option instead. Microwaving or oven-heating in plastic is one of the worst offenders. If you use meal prep services, look for ones that use natural compostable or paper-based packaging.

4.Replace plastic kitchen tools with long-lasting alternatives — Your plastic cutting board, spatula, or soup ladle leaches plastic fragments into your food. Plastic boards degrade every time your knife scrapes across them. Switch to a wood or tempered glass cutting board, and replace any plastic utensils with stainless steel. If you cook daily, this one move eliminates thousands of microplastic particles each year from entering your body.

5.Balance estrogenic damage with natural progesterone if needed — Microplastics often mimic estrogen in your body. This disrupts your hormonal balance and increases inflammation. If you’re struggling with symptoms like bloating, fatigue, irritability, or stubborn belly fat, these may be signs of estrogen dominance. In these cases, natural progesterone helps restore balance. It acts as a countermeasure to the hormonal confusion that plastic exposure creates.

FAQs About Inhaled Microplastics

Q: What happens when I inhale microplastics?

A: When you breathe in microplastics, they weaken your lung’s immune cells — specifically pulmonary macrophages — within just 24 hours. These cells normally clear out harmful bacteria and waste, but exposure to plastic particles shuts down that function.

Q: Do microplastics stay in my lungs or spread throughout my body?

A: Microplastics don’t just affect your lungs. Once inhaled, they spread through your bloodstream and accumulate in other organs like your liver, spleen, colon, kidneys, and brain, where they contribute to inflammation and long-term health problems.

Q: Why is this dangerous to your health?

A: When macrophages can’t remove toxins, your immune system gets overwhelmed. This leads to chronic inflammation, tissue damage and greater risk for conditions like lung disease, hormone imbalance and even cancer.

Q: How do microplastics end up in my body in the first place?

A: You’re exposed to microplastics through more than just the food you eat or water you drink. They’re in the air around you, especially if you live near heavy traffic, industrial zones, or wear synthetic fabrics indoors. These plastic particles break off from tires, clothing, packaging, and dust, then enter your lungs with every breath. Once inhaled, they travel through your bloodstream and settle in other organs, including your brain and liver.

Q: What steps can I take to protect myself from microplastics?

A: Lower your exposure by using HEPA air filters, drinking filtered water stored in glass, avoiding plastic containers for food storage and heating, replacing plastic utensils with stainless steel and using natural progesterone if you show signs of estrogen imbalance due to microplastics exposure.

 

 Sources and References

·         ^1, 2 News Medical May 19, 2025

·         ³ Environmental Science & Technology Letters February 28, 2024

Bron : https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2025/07/15/inhaled-microplastics-lung-damage.aspx?cid_source=takecontrol&cid_medium=email&cid_content=art2HL&cid=20250815_TC

The most expensive trace element in the world – because it costs nothing

The most expensive trace element in the world – because it costs nothing

An exposé on the suppression of lithium under the guise of pharmaceutical regulation and public health policy – inspired by Michael Nehls’ visit to the summer festival of the Swiss Association WIR

Aug 21, 2025

I would like to share this exceptional article from the Swiss WIR Association with you. — Dr. Michael Nehls

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A medical and societal revolution

Lithium is a trace element that has been essential to the development of all life since time immemorial. Humans are no exception.

But unfortunately, a widespread deficiency exists that diminishes our quality of life. It leads to an increase in depression and Alzheimer’s disease, more admissions to psychiatric hospitals, more violent behavior, higher suicide rates, and ultimately even a shortened lifespan!

The fatal consequences of this deficiency are sold to us as unavoidable normality, while the responsible authorities simultaneously refuse to acknowledge the essential importance of this trace element. In a particularly perfidious twist, lithium-containing supplements are even banned in Europe – as well as in most other countries worldwide. The fact that many behavior disorders due to deficiency in children are commonly (and unsuccessfully) treated with side-effect-heavy but highly lucrative medications, suggests that financial interests may be behind this scandal. But is it just about profit? Or are we dealing with a perverse claim to power over the human mind? Who benefits from a society that grows increasingly ill – physically and mentally – and lives in constant fear of the future?

“The Conspiracy Against Lithium“

Michael Nehls’ newest book “The Conspiracy Against Lithium” offers urgently needed answers and serves as a medical plea for the long-overdue recognition of lithium’s essential role as a key to a healthier, more mentally stable, and peaceful society. After all, it offers powerful, natural protection against chronic inflammation, neurotoxic stress, and anxiety disorders. Ailments that have now reached pandemic proportions. Essential lithium could become the symbol of humanity’s breakthrough into a new era of medicine – one that meets the natural needs of the human being.

Globally, mental performance is declining, particularly among young people, while rates of depression are skyrocketing.

One in forty people now suffers from Alzheimer’s, and the age of onset is dropping rapidly.

But the causes are not being addressed – on the contrary. Can that really be coincidence?

„The Indoctrinated Brain“

Michael Nehls’ book “The Indoctrinated Brain” introduces a largely unknown but highly effective neurobiological mechanism whose unnoticed yet widespread disruption lies at the root of this catastrophe. As a medical doctor and internationally recognized molecular geneticist, Nehls presents a chilling chain of evidence suggesting that behind these numerous harmful influences lies a deliberate, masterfully executed attack on our individuality – aimed at stripping us of the ability to think independently. But it’s not too late.

By exposing these brain-damaging processes and offering concrete steps for counteraction, Nehls brings light and hope into this fateful chapter of human history. What’s at stake is nothing less than whether our species retains its humanity and creative capacity – or loses it forever.

A pill against Alzheimer’s?

Too cheap to be true

Imagine there were a trace element that could dramatically reduce your risk of depression, suicide, Alzheimer’s, violent behavior, and mental illness. A molecule that boosts cognitive performance, stabilizes your cells, regulates your mood – and is as natural as iodine or iron. That molecule is lithium.

“And now imagine: This molecule – which demonstrably protects, stabilizes, and strengthens – is banned. Not because it’s dangerous. But because it’s too cheap. Because there’s no profit to be made.”

Many people believe Alzheimer’s is an inevitable consequence of aging – a kind of biological expiration date. But that’s a fallacy. While the disease does correlate with age, correlation is not causation.

What has been proven, however, is this: A healthy older person with adequate lithium intake has a significantly lower risk of developing the disease. It’s not age that makes us demented. It’s deficiency. And that deficiency is not fate – it’s the result of systematic ignorance – or deliberate sabotage.
Because while we’re being denied lithium, billions are being poured into so-called vaccines against Alzheimer’s – with disastrous results. These new miracle drugs from the syringe shelf not only fail to work – they’ve been shown to accelerate cognitive decline. And still, they’re injected, researched, administered. Why? Because it pays. For some.

“And for the others? Only forgetting remains. But no worries – with accelerated dementia, that now happens even faster.”

What is lithium, anyway?

No, we’re not talking about car batteries. We’re talking about lithium in microscopic amounts – so-called “trace lithium” – which occurs in drinking water, plants, algae, and seafood. Or at least, it should. Because in many regions of Europe, natural levels are so low that people are chronically deficient. The consequences: psychological instability, increased suicide rates, dementia. Studies with thousands of participants show a direct correlation: In regions with higher lithium levels in the drinking water, there are significantly fewer psychiatric disorders. Even plants like lettuce demonstrably grow better with a bit of lithium. Fruit flies live longer. Animals are more fertile. And humans? They would be too – if allowed.

So why isn’t lithium already part of our basic healthcare?

Short answer: Because it benefits no one looking to profit.

Long answer: Because lithium is not officially recognized as essential. Despite clear data, health authorities stubbornly refuse to grant lithium the status it deserves. Why? Because there’s no money in prevention. How much does one milligram of lithium cost? Almost nothing.

And that’s exactly the problem: Lithium is so cheap, it’s simply not profitable for pharmaceutical companies. No patents, no blockbuster drugs, no thousand-franc-a-month therapies. Just a few cents a day.

Anyone wondering why, in a system that calls itself a healthcare system, healthy people are economically undesirable – has understood the system.

Banned. Seriously?

Yes, seriously. Lithium as a dietary supplement is not approved anywhere in the EU – including Switzerland. [Comment: In the U.S., some companies market lithium orotate as a dietary supplement, but it isn't FDA-approved as an essential nutrient.] It can neither be advertised nor sold. Anyone who tries to do so operates on legally thin ice. A doctor may prescribe it, but only as a pharmaceutical drug – so, expensive. Pharmacies may produce it, but only in tiny amounts and by hand. And those who want to supply themselves must either order semi-legally from abroad or mix their daily dose themselves.

The Swiss state – otherwise so proud of personal responsibility – forbids its citizens from taking a natural trace element in microdoses that demonstrably helps the brain remain stable. But you’re welcome to swallow a range of pharmaceutical cocktails to treat the symptoms. Covered by insurance, of course.

The great medical myth: Humans are inherently flawed

Modern medicine no longer views the body as a self-regulating, wise system. No, in the eyes of the system, the modern human is biologically defective from birth. He needs intervention. Shots. Chemicals. Control. And the earlier, the better. Babies are already considered at-risk objects with built-in flaws. Their immunity must be trained, their behavior regulated, their biochemistry monitored. A newborn miracle becomes a potential lifelong patient – managed by algorithms, treated by guidelines, adjusted for functionality and profitability. And if regular booster shots aren’t enough, then daily pills: for blood pressure, for cholesterol, for thinking. Preventive intake of a natural trace element like lithium, however? Not promoted – criminalized.

Yet observations are mounting: The much-praised “preventive measures” of recent years – especially the mRNA injections – have done the opposite. Increasing numbers of young people with neurological symptoms, memory problems, word-finding difficulties. And among the elderly, a sharp rise in dementia diagnoses. Society is getting dumber and no one seems to notice. Or worse: Everyone notices, but no one says anything. The elephant in the room, peeing on the Persian carpet while waving a sign: “You’re being kept stupid.” Instead of throwing it out, we decorate it. With “awareness campaigns” on mental health. With early retirement for overwhelmed twenty-somethings. And with pharmaceuticals for the symptoms. Just don’t ask about the cause.

What happens when we all become demented idiots?

What sounds like a provocative question is actually the logical result of a policy of deliberate deprivation. A population deprived of cognition won’t question anything – it will only follow. A society that raises children without essential micronutrients and stuffs its elderly with useless drugs does not produce responsible citizens. It produces dependents. And ultimately, an entire generation that can’t even remember how it all began.

Maybe that’s the point. There are circles – let’s call them the upper floors of the pyramid – doing everything they can to stay up there. Sleeping in oxygen tents, regenerating with stem cells, swapping out their hearts like others change watch batteries. Five transplants? No problem. As long as the exploitation system runs, it better be comfortable. For them. Not for us.

A dumbed-down, disempowered population doesn’t ask questions, doesn’t resist, doesn’t demand truth. It follows – with blank stares, full medicine cabinets, and the feeling that “this is just how things are.” But it’s not. It’s made. Planned. Promoted.

What if we treated lithium for what it is?

The consequences would be enormous. General access to trace lithium – whether through fortified drinking water or supplements – could vastly improve a generation’s mental health.
Fewer cases of depression.
Fewer suicides.

• Less depressions.
• Less suicides.
• Fewer Alzheimer diagnoses.
• Less psychotropic medication.
• Less dependency on the system.

And all that for a few francs a year. No wonder the system blocks it.

What can we do?

1.    Educate. Everyone has the right to know what’s being withheld from them. Lithium is not a drug – it’s an essential trace element that is systematically ignored.

2.    Win over doctors. Only with brave physicians who free themselves from the grip of insurances and medical boards can lithium return to where it belongs: basic healthcare.

3.    Change the legal status. We demand lithium’s recognition as an essential trace element and its approval as a dietary supplement.

4.    Take responsibility. Those who don’t want to wait for Bern to wake up can get informed today, network, and obtain lithium legally via prescription.

5.    Empower parents and seniors. Children and the elderly benefit most from a stable lithium supply. Those who take responsibility don’t just protect themselves – they protect society’s cognitive future.

Lithium is no secret tip. It’s a human right.

A human right to mental health. To self-determination. To a life with reason and memory. Anyone who denies people this trace element doesn’t just rob them of their focus – but of control over their own minds. This is no longer about medicine. This is about dignity. And the question: Do we want to raise our children to be independent thinkers or functional patients with short memories and long vaccination records? The fact that this trace element is being withheld is no accident. It’s a system error. And it’s up to us to correct it. Not tomorrow. Today.

Note: This article does not replace medical advice. It is intended to break mental blocks. For further information, visit Michael Nehls’ website. We also recommend this (not too long) interview with Philipp Hopf. And for those who want all the details, read Michael Nehls’ books.

---

Excursus:

The Zurzach Case – How a Molecule Vanished

What happens when a natural mineral water has proven antidepressant and neuroprotective effects? One might think it would be protected, promoted, and used for prevention. But in reality, it’s taken off the market.

Zurzacher mineral water, the only known source in Switzerland with a lithium content of 1.3 mg/liter, was shut down in 2022 – just when interest in the brand was clearly rising again. Numerous articles in medical journals praised its positive effects on dementia and depression. All natural, no side effects, no billion-dollar research required.

Yet instead of being declared a public good and placed under state protection, the spring was economically drained. German owner Riha Wesergold justified the closure with personnel costs and energy prices – in one of the richest countries in the world. A year later, two entrepreneurs attempted a revival: investments flowed into the project.

And today?

The company still exists on paper. But Zurzacher mineral water is no longer for sale. When asked, the local tourist office confirmed what many suspect: The planned relaunch failed – no one knows why. The woman on the phone said: „You’re not the first to ask.“

And yet, longtime locals still say: “We are the happiest people in Switzerland – we drink Zurzacher water.” The staff member even knew about lithium. Coincidence? Or a relic of better times? The spring itself still exists. At the thermal spa, you can draw the water directly from a fountain. Legally, freely, unmonitored. For now.

So why did it disappear from the market? Did someone perhaps make an offer to ensure it stayed that way? An offer less about beverage distribution and more about suppressing well-being and vitality? Because anyone who makes people mentally clear, emotionally stable, and resilient soon faces a problem: They ask questions. They stop simply functioning. They stop being made sick – and even less, held down.

In a country where health is worth billions – but only when it leads to illness – it wouldn’t be the first deal that pays off more for the Pharma friends than the Swiss citizens.

Aftermath on Paper

In the official Swiss mineral water composition chart of 2023 Zurzacher was still listed – with a documented 1.3 mg of lithium per liter. One year later, in the 2024 no mention. Not marked as unavailable. No note on discontinued production. Simply: erased.

Is this still an administrative oversight – or already data sanitization?

Because when even a supposedly objective fact sheet deletes Switzerland’s lithium champion without a trace, the question must be asked: Has a mineral disappeared – or is this just a symptom of something far bigger? A Swiss lithium plot?

“WE forget nothing. And to those who author such tables, a friendly reminder: WE’re reading. Always.”

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