[ditn]

Regularly donating blood or plasma can reduce PFAS concentrations in the body, I believe the effect is the same on microplastics https://theconversation.com/new-evidence-shows-blood-or-plas...

[ekanes]

Super interesting. But is the blood then cleaned of them, or is this kind of like giving your plastics to someone else? :/

[erikpukinskis]

If I was in a need of a blood transfusion I think I’m OK with there being a normal amount of nanoplastics in them.

[Entinel]

If I was in a situation where I needed emergency blood, the level of microplastics in it is the least of my concerns.

[godsfshrmn]

The only feasible way I see for removal is via donation or some form of hemodialysis. As the saying goes, the solution for pollution is dilution (or at least in the medical sense!)

[CommanderData]

This comes up time and time again. I'd feel worse giving someone else toxic blood that can't be fully filtered.

Why isn't blood letting mentioned more?

[Zircom]

You don't need to feel guilty. Microplastics are pervasive to the point where everybody already has them in their blood, so people receiving blood with them in it are getting any noticeably net harm done to them. If you're in need of a blood transfusion the alternative is usually death, so all things considering maintaining the status quo of microplastic levels already in you isn't the worst thing ever.

[coding123]

Or get a shit ton of labs done

[bilsbie]

How about regular whole blood donations?

[croes]

You mean bloodletting, because you can't use the blood for others.

[daveguy]

I don't think anyone would mind taking on some pfas or microplastics from a donor if they're about to bleed out. There are always priorities.

[burke]

If all donated blood was screened for trace microplastics, I think we’d have an immediate and total donor blood shortage.