The continuous pollution of the environment with nano- and microplastics (NMP) has raised significant concerns about their impact on ecosystems and human health. Although the full consequences of exposure are unclear, the continuous fragmentation and accumulation of polymers through environmental processes have led to increased uptake in biological systems. The growing concern about the potentially serious health effects caused by NMP underlines the immediate need for detailed research to detect these particles in humans and assess their health effects. An initial step is to identify the plastic particles that enter our bodies and determine the affected organs. An established method to identify polymers in a non-destructive way is infrared spectroscopy. A particularly interesting variant of infrared spectroscopy is the Optical Photothermal Infrared (OPTIR) method, which has emerged as a powerful technique in this field of research. We show reliable and contactless detection of particles down to 250 nm size, thereby significantly surpassing limits of conventional Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) methods. This advancement can improve our understanding of NMP contamination in complex matrices like human tissues. However, detecting microplastics is challenging due to the ability of polymers to change their chemical characteristics under various environmental conditions such as temperature, UV radiation, and moisture. Understanding these chemical transformations is crucial for accurate detection and identification since it is unclear which NMP humans ingest or how long these particles have been exposed to external influences. Researchers have highlighted the need for advanced detection methods that are reliable and effective, even when the exposure history of ingested NMPs is unknown. To address these complexities, we conducted a systematic study of 10 different polymer types. Further, we present results of NMPs detected in various mammalian tissue types. This is a prerequisite to accurately identify polymer particles and assess their impact on human health. Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/558837/document

In MICRO 2024: Plastic Pollution from MACRO to nano