Omar Khalid
Plastic bags are commonly used for storing and collecting blood, and they have been found to be advantageous in the collection, processing, storage, and dispensing of blood components. However, there have been concerns about the safety of using plastic bags for blood storage due to the potential toxicity of certain chemicals used in the plasticization process, such as di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP). Additionally, when defrosting meat in a plastic bag, it is common to find blood and liquid in the container, which may be due to tiny holes in the plastic caused by sharp edges or ice crystals, as well as the natural brittleness of plastic at cold temperatures. Furthermore, microplastic pollution has recently been detected in human blood, raising concerns about its potential impact on health. While the effects are still unknown, the presence of microplastics in the blood highlights the need for further research and raises questions about the long-term consequences of plastic exposure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic bags become more brittle | when they're very cold |
| Liquids have a tendency to | follow seams and small gaps |
| When meat is frozen | the water forms large jagged ice crystals |
| Ice crystals | poke tiny holes in the plastic bag |
| When the meat defrosts | the ice turns back into water and leaks out with a little bit of blood |
| Plastic blood bags are advantageous | in the collection, processing, storage, and dispensing of blood components |
| Plastic blood bags contain | di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) |
| DEHP | is referred to as a plasticizer |
| DEHP | can leak into blood stored in the container and be transfused along with the blood |
| DEHP | may impair the development of the male genital tract |
| Plastic bags are permeable to CO2 | allowing metabolic acids to be buffered in the bicarbonate buffer system |
| Microplastics have been found | in human blood for the first time |
| Microplastics | can latch on to the outer membranes of red blood cells and may limit their ability to transport oxygen |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic bags become brittle when frozen, allowing ice crystals to pierce them
Plastic bags become more brittle when frozen. This means that a sharp bone edge on a piece of meat can pierce a small hole in the bag, or a corner can wear away when the bag is pushed up against other items in the freezer. Ice crystals that form inside the bag can also be very sharp and can poke tiny holes in the plastic. The water that escapes from the bag comes out through these tiny holes. Liquids have a tendency to follow seams and small gaps, which is how paper towels absorb water.
When meat is frozen, ice crystals form within it, bursting a number of its cell walls. When the meat is defrosted, the ice turns back into water and leaks out, mixed with a small amount of blood. This liquid can follow the seams of the seal at the top of the bag, which may have been slightly damaged by expanding ice crystals.
The brittleness of plastic bags in the freezer is also affected by the constant crinkling and stretching they undergo. Liquids can enter the tiny grooves and pits in plastic bags, and since water expands by about 11% when frozen, tiny micro-fractures can occur in the thinner parts of the bag as it stretches.
When meat is defrosted, a lot of cell walls that have burst when frozen start to lose moisture. This can result in a small amount of blood mixed with a lot of water. Condensation from warm, moist air outside the bag can also mix with the blood, resulting in additional liquid.
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Plasticizers in blood bags can leach into stored blood
Plasticizers are added to blood bags to increase their flexibility. However, these plasticizers can leach into the blood stored in the bags, potentially causing toxic effects on the recipient when transfused. This process is known as "plasticizer release" and has been observed in blood bags made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plasticized with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). DEHP is a common plasticizer used for blood collection and storage, constituting up to 40% of the weight of classic PVC films.
The release of plasticizers from blood bags into the stored blood products is a significant issue in the field of blood transfusion and storage. Studies have shown that DEHP is slowly leached from the walls of PVC blood bags into the blood products. This leaching process can occur even when the blood is stored under standard conditions. For example, one study found that 1 unit of whole blood stored for 14 days in PVC blood bags contained 20-50 mg of DEHP, which increased to 30-55 mg by day 28. Similarly, 15-20 mg of DEHP was found in 1 unit of plasma stored for 4 days at +4 degrees C.
The presence of DEHP in the stored blood can have both positive and negative effects. On the one hand, DEHP has been shown to have protective effects on red blood cell (RBC) membranes, aiding in the preservation of erythrocyte integrity. On the other hand, DEHP is also a toxin that might exert toxic effects on the recipient during transfusion. Additionally, studies have shown that DEHP can interact with platelets, negatively impacting their function.
To address the potential risks associated with DEHP, researchers have explored alternative plasticizers for blood bags. For example, a paired study investigated the use of 1,2-cyclohexane-dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester (DINCH) and n-butyryl-tri-n-hexyl citrate (BTHC) as alternative plasticizers in PVC pediatric bags. The study found that while all three plasticizers displayed similar effects on RBC membrane integrity and elongation, the BTHC-plasticized bags had larger mean corpuscular volumes (MCVs) of RBCs, indicating cell swelling during storage.
In conclusion, plasticizers in blood bags, such as DEHP, can leach into stored blood, potentially causing toxic effects on the recipient during transfusion. While DEHP has some beneficial effects on RBC preservation, the potential risks have prompted the exploration of alternative plasticizers to ensure the safety and efficacy of blood transfusions.
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Plastic bags are permeable to gases, allowing CO2 to pass through
Plastic bags are often used to store blood and blood products for medical use. The use of plastic bags for blood storage has several advantages, including improved red blood cell storage. This is because plastic bags are permeable to gases, allowing carbon dioxide (CO2) to pass through. The permeability of plastic bags to CO2 is essential for buffering metabolic acids in the blood using the bicarbonate buffer system.
The ability of CO2 to permeate plastic bags is crucial for maintaining the quality and safety of stored blood. By allowing CO2 to pass through, the plastic bags help regulate the pH and acid-base balance of the stored blood. This ensures that the blood remains suitable for transfusion and minimizes the risk of adverse reactions in patients.
Additionally, the gas permeability of plastic bags can also contribute to the overall safety of blood storage. CO2 permeability helps prevent the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms, reducing the risk of contamination. This is especially important as bacterial contamination of blood products can have serious health consequences for transfusion recipients.
The gas permeability of plastic bags is a result of the materials used in their construction. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a common material used for blood bags, and it is often plasticized with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) to increase flexibility. However, the safety of DEHP has been questioned due to its potential toxicity and the possibility of it leaching into the stored blood.
While plastic bags offer advantages for blood storage, it is important to consider their limitations and potential drawbacks. In some cases, the permeability of plastic bags to gases can also allow other substances to pass through, including microscopic plastic particles. These microplastics have been detected in human blood, raising concerns about their potential impact on health. Further research is needed to fully understand the effects of microplastics in the blood and to ensure the safety of blood storage and transfusion practices.
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Bacteria can enter blood bags through perforations
Blood transfusion is a potential source of infection by a variety of known and unknown transmissible agents. Bacterial contamination of blood bags can occur in several ways, including through skin contaminants, the manufacturing process, or unusual circumstances.
Skin contaminants are a common source of bacterial contamination in blood bags. Bacteria that are part of normal skin flora may enter the blood bag during the venisection process or if there is a breach in the bag. For example, a skin core that enters the collection needle can introduce bacteria into the blood bag. To mitigate this risk, several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of diverting the first 10 to 42 ml of donor blood from the initial collection. This method has been shown to significantly decrease the bacterial load in the collection bag and is practised in several countries, including France, the Netherlands, and Canada.
In rare cases, bacterial contamination of blood bags may occur due to unusual circumstances. For example, an outbreak of Serratia marcescens contamination of red cells in Denmark and Sweden was thought to involve the manufacturing process. It was suspected that S. marcescens, present in the dust in the factory, contaminated the outside of the containers. In the presence of moisture and a nutrient source, the bacteria proliferated and gained entry into the bags.
Additionally, the use of single-donor apheresis platelets has been found to be an effective means of reducing septic platelet transfusion reactions. Culture studies have shown that culturing on the day of collection may miss bacterially contaminated units that could reach dangerous levels during storage. Therefore, it is crucial to implement measures to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination in blood bags and to monitor and treat any potential infections that may occur.
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Microplastics have been found in human blood
When defrosting meat in a plastic bag, the liquid that leaks out is not blood. When meat is frozen, the water inside it forms large, sharp ice crystals that poke tiny holes in the plastic bag. When the meat is then defrosted, the ice turns back into liquid and leaks out, sometimes containing a small amount of blood.
However, microplastics have been found in human blood for the first time, which is a cause for concern. Researchers analysed blood samples from 22 anonymous donors and found plastic particles in 17, or about 77-80% of the donors. The impact on human health is unknown, but researchers are concerned as microplastics have been shown to cause damage to human cells in the laboratory.
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that are found almost everywhere on Earth, from Mount Everest to the Mariana Trench and the Antarctic. People are exposed to microplastics through air, water, and food, as well as through personal care products like toothpaste or lip gloss that may be accidentally ingested, dental polymers, parts of implants, or tattoo ink residues.
The discovery of microplastics in the bloodstream shows that people ingest or inhale a significant amount of plastic. The particles can travel throughout the body and may lodge in organs. More research is needed to determine the human health risks involved, but the presence of microplastics in the blood is a breakthrough result that highlights the need to understand the impact of plastic on human health.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic bags become more brittle when they're very cold, and things like a sharp bone edge on a pork chop will poke a hole in the bag. When the meat defrosts, the ice turns back into water and leaks out with a little bit of the blood from the meat.
Plastic blood bags are permeable to CO2 and are made from polyvinyl chloride containing the plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), which makes the plastic pliable. DEHP can leak into the blood stored in the container and be transfused along with it.
Microplastics have been found in almost 80% of human blood samples tested. They can enter the body through food and water or by breathing them in. The particles can travel throughout the body and may lodge in organs.
