New evidence on plastics & lung cancer

Plastic pollution is usually framed as an environmental issue. It may also be a lung health issue.

A new viewpoint in The Journal of Clinical Investigation highlights that:

• Micro- and nanoplastics have been discovered in multiple human tissues, including the lungs.
• Workers in plastic and rubber manufacturing are at increased risk of cancers including lung cancer.

The paper doesn’t claim that everyday microplastic exposure causes lung cancer. But it raises important questions about inhalation, inflammation, long-term exposure, and cancer biology.

Lung cancer prevention cannot be limited to one risk factor. We need to understand the full picture of environmental and occupational exposures that may affect lung health, and ensure these are part of policy discussions across Europe.