<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>People could be breathing in up to 68,000 particles of potentially harmful microplastics each and every day, new research has revealed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A study in France analysing the amounts of microplastics found in cars and in homes has found the level of lung-penetrating microplastics is 100 times higher than previously thought.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Samples were collected from researchers' own apartments and cars, using a technique called Raman spectroscopy to measure concentrations of microplastics in 16 air samples.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/multiple-people-injured-in-mini-bus-crash-in-nsw-hunter-valley-regionx/ea21466a-6056-42a4-adee-3c67861f4995" target="_blank"><strong><span>Six injured in wedding minibus crash in NSW Hunter Valley</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It found 94 per cent of the detected particles were smaller than 10 micrometres, meaning they are more likely to penetrate the lungs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This means the health risk from inhaling microparticles could be higher than previously thought.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Inhaling microplastics can lead to impaired lung function, respiratory conditions and organ damage.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/health/france-health-study-microplastics/6e8fccaa-54a0-4aa6-bf71-08588b26b53d" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/jeffrey-epstein-ghislaine-maxwell-united-states-testify/54c81e8b-df99-4564-a9af-e69a13a0b487" target="_blank"><strong><span>Epstein's accomplice offers to reveal all - but there's a catch</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Everywhere we look, we find microplastics, even in the air we breathe inside our homes and cars; the biggest concern is how small these particles are – completely invisible to the naked eye," the study's authors said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We inhale thousands of them every day without even realising it. Deep inside our lungs, microplastics release toxic additives that reach our blood and cause multiple diseases."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The authors said the levels of microplastics found in cars were higher than in apartments, but argued the difference was insignificant due to the difference in environment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Responding to the study, Professor Thava Palanisami from the University of Newcastle said it raises concerns surrounding the long-term impact of microplastics on human health.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This study reveals that tiny plastic particles in the air we breathe indoors – especially in homes and cars – are far more prevalent than previously thought," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These small particles can penetrate deeply into our lungs, raising new concerns about how prolonged exposure to everyday plastics may impact our health over time."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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