Microplastics, PAP Therapy, and What the Science Shows

Mar 27, 2026

Michel Cahali, an otolaryngologist studying CPAP effects on the airway, and Thais Mauad, a pulmonary pathologist who detects microplastics in human tissues, discuss microplastics in nose, lungs, and even the olfactory bulb. They explore how plastics enter the body, methods to study deposition, surprising findings about PAP therapy, inflammation links, material additives, and steps to reduce exposure in healthcare and daily life.

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INSIGHT

Microplastics Found In Carotid Plaque Raise Clinical Risk

Microplastics have been detected in human tissues and linked to worse outcomes, including carotid plaque where presence raised risk of stroke, heart attack, or death about fourfold over ~34 months.
Thais Mauad describes a prospective study of ~300 endarterectomy patients where ~1/3 had microplastics in plaques and higher adverse event rates, highlighting systemic exposure risks.

INSIGHT

Olfactory Pathway Can Deliver Microplastics To Brain

The olfactory route is a plausible pathway for inhaled microplastics to reach the brain despite the blood-brain barrier.
Thais Mauad found tiny microplastic fragments in the human olfactory bulb, supporting inhalation-to-brain translocation.

ANECDOTE

Unexpected Finding That CPAP Users Didn’t Have More Nasal Plastics

Michel Cahali expected CPAP users to have far more nasal microplastics due to hours of pressurized air delivery through plastic devices.
To their surprise, long-term CPAP users and nonusers had similar nasal microplastic loads in the study.

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In this episode of Talking Sleep, host Dr. Seema Khosla explores growing concerns about microplastics in human health and what they may mean for patients using positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. She is joined by Dr. Thais Mauad, a pathologist based in São Paulo, Brazil, and Dr. Michel Cahali, an otolaryngologist, whose recent research examines the presence of microplastics and inflammatory mediators in the nasal airway of PAP users and non‑users.

The conversation is framed by alarming findings from recent high‑profile studies showing microplastics in carotid artery plaque and even in the olfactory bulb of the human brain — discoveries that raise important questions about how these particles enter the body and their potential long‑term health effects. Dr. Mauad discusses her work on microplastics in neural tissue and explains how these particles may interact with inflammatory pathways, while Dr. Cahali describes their collaborative research evaluating microplastic deposition in the nasal airway.

A key focus of the discussion is whether PAP therapy itself contributes to microplastic exposure. The guests walk through their study design, control population, and findings, including the reassuring conclusion that PAP users did not demonstrate higher levels of microplastics in the nasal airway compared with controls. They also address important nuances, such as equipment age, material degradation, and how exposure may differ throughout the respiratory tract.

Beyond PAP therapy, the episode expands into a broader conversation about how plastics are manufactured, the role of additives and so‑called “forever chemicals,” and how responsibility for reducing plastic exposure has historically shifted to consumers rather than manufacturers. Drs. Mauad and Cahali reflect on what these findings mean for sleep medicine professionals and discuss practical steps the sleep community can take — from clinical practice to advocacy — to reduce plastic exposure in health care settings.

Whether you’re concerned about the safety of PAP devices, interested in emerging research on microplastics and inflammation, or looking to better understand how environmental exposures intersect with sleep health, this episode provides important scientific context and thoughtful perspective on an issue that extends far beyond the sleep clinic.