Science & technology | Plastic and healthMicroplastics have not yet earned their bad reputationThere are worrying signs. But more thorough studies of their health effects are comingPhotograph: Fredrik Naumann/Panos Pictures Apr 16th 2025IN 2018 A TEAM of Austrian scientists discovered tiny fragments of plastic, known as microplastics, in stool samples from people in several countries. Since then, such particles have been found in human blood as well as organs, including the lungs, liver, kidneys, heart and even the brain. They have also turned up in the placenta and breast milk. And, according to some recent studies, the amount making its way into the body is increasing.Explore moreThis article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Mixed bag”From the April 19th 2025 editionDiscover stories from this section and more in the list of contents⇒Explore the editionReuse this content