I help high-performers escape their mental prisons | Internal Tech™ Pioneer | Ex-Chelsea/Barcelona Performance Coach | Author: GLITCH: the hidden code running your life (and how to debug it)| ₿
Blood Donation and Contaminant Reduction
While no studies have directly measured microplastic levels before and after blood donation, research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—another persistent environmental contaminant—offers a useful parallel. PFAS, like microplastics, accumulate in the body and bind to blood serum proteins. A 2022 randomized clinical trial in JAMA Network Open involving 285 Australian firefighters found that regular blood and plasma donations significantly reduced PFAS levels. Participants who donated blood every 12 weeks saw a 1.1 ng/mL reduction in PFOS (a type of PFAS), while those donating plasma every 6 weeks experienced even greater reductions (up to 2.9 ng/mL for PFOS and 1.1 ng/mL for PFHxS). The study suggested that removing blood or plasma, which contains these contaminants, lowers their overall concentration in the body, though levels can rebound if exposure continues.