microplastics
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Microplastics found in the human bloodstream Dutch researchers have demonstrated that minuscule pieces of plastic from our living environment are absorbed into the human bloodstream, publishing their results in the journal Environment International.
polymers of styrene were the most common types
ingested to 40,000 plastic particles. The researchers
of plastic found in the blood samples, followed by
also demonstrated widespread contamination of
poly(methyl methacrylate); polypropylene was also
mineral water with xenohormones leached from
analysed but the concentrations were too low for
PET bottles, known to exhibit oestrogenic activity
an accurate measurement.
which can act carcinogenic in the body.
“This dataset is the first of its kind and must
Experimental studies indicate that ingested
be expanded to gain insight into how widespread
MNPs passing through the gastrointestinal tract
plastic pollution is in the bodies of humans, and
lead to changes in the composition of the gut
T
how harmful that may be,” said analytical chemist
microbiome; such changes are associated with the
Marja Lamoree, from VU Amsterdam. “With this
development of metabolic diseases such as diabetes,
insight, we can determine whether exposure to
obesity or chronic liver disease. In addition to
plastic particles poses a threat to public health.”
the effects on the gut microbiome, the scientists
Separately to this, researchers from the Medical
also described specific molecular mechanisms
he researchers from VU Amsterdam,
University of Vienna revealed that 5 g of MNPs
that facilitate the uptake of MNPs into gut tissue.
Deltares and Amsterdam UMC developed an
on average enter the human gastrointestinal tract
Analysis showed that MNPs in the gastrointestinal
analytic method for establishing the trace level
per person per week — roughly equivalent to
tract could increasingly be taken up into tissue
of micro- and nanoplastic particles (MNPs) in
the weight of a credit card. While the health risk
under certain physicochemical conditions and
human blood, which was applied to the blood
of ingested MNPs is largely unknown to date,
activate mechanisms involved in local inflammatory
of 22 anonymous donors. Nanoplastics are
the researchers summarised the current state of
and immune responses. Nanoplastics in particular
defined as being less than 0.001 mm in size, while
scientific knowledge in a review article for the
are associated with biochemical processes that are
microplastics, at 0.001–5 mm, are to some extent
journal Exposure and Health.
crucially involved in carcinogenesis.
still visible to the naked eye.
MNPs enter the food chain from packaging
According to study co-author Lukas Kenner,
Three-quarters of the test subjects appeared
waste, among other sources, and are trafficked
the potential adverse health effects of plastic
to have plastics in their blood, proving that plastic
into the body via food such as marine life and sea
particles could be particularly impactful for people
particles can end up in the human bloodstream.
salt. Drinking also plays a part, with one study
with a chronic disease burden. “A healthy gut is
The overall concentration of plastic particles in the
showing that anyone who drinks 1.5 to 2 L of
more likely to ward off the health risk,” he said.
blood of the 22 donors amounted to an average
water a day from plastic bottles ingests around
“But local changes in the gastrointestinal tract,
of 1.6 µg/mL, which is comparable to a teaspoon
90,000 plastic particles per year in this way alone;
such as those present in chronic disease or even
of plastic in 1000 L of water (10 large bath tubs).
those who choose tap water can, depending on
negative stress, could make them susceptible to
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene and
their geographical location, reduce the amount
the harmful effects of MNPs.”
36 | LAB+LIFE SCIENTIST - Apr/May 2022
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