‘There is a dire lack of … studies’
Increasing awareness of the amount of microplastics found in our environment has led to concerns about their impact on human health, especially as a result of routine intake.
Now a new study has taken the first step towards measuring the impact of microplastic intake on our bodies.
What’s going on?
SpringerOpen shared a study published in the journal Microplastics and Nanoplasticsstudied the oral toxicity of microplastics, specifically polyamide microplastics.
Most previous research on the effects of ingested microplastics was limited to examining polystyrene beads, which are not representative of the scope of microplastics.
As the study abstract states: “There is a serious lack of standardized in vivo studies investigating the harm caused by microplastics to humans, according to OECD testing guidelines.”
To study the potential effects of ingestion, researchers fed mice microplastics for 28 days. The results showed that no significant acute toxicity occurred in rats at the end of the testing period.
While it is good news that the immediate harmful effects of microplastic ingestion are limited, the study also documented subtle but significant changes in the composition of the gut microbiome and inflammatory markers. These findings suggest that long-term exposure to microplastics may lead to permanent consequences.
It was also discovered that the physicochemical properties of polyamide affect how it is distributed in the body after digestion, and that microplastics accumulate in organs such as the liver.
This raises the question of whether microplastics may increase the health risks of environmental toxins or chemical additives.
Why is this discovery alarming?
As noted in the research, thanks to plastic waste, microplastics are now found in almost everything we come into contact with, including our water, soil, and food.
We are at risk of ingesting microplastics, which can remain in our bodies forever; Therefore, the results of this study provide new information on the health risks of microplastic consumption.
Previous studies on the impact of microplastics on the human body have found that microplastics are potentially linked to numerous health problems, including dementia, weight gain, hormonal disruption, decreased fertility and increased risk of heart disease.
If the findings of this study are supported in subsequent research, then microplastics in the body may also proliferate other toxins, increasing the risk of additional health problems, although more research on the subject is needed.
What is being done about plastic waste?
World governments and companies continue to take steps to reduce plastic waste, from creating more sustainable product packaging to signing international agreements to reduce plastic use.
Individuals can help protect themselves from ingesting microplastics by using water filters designed to filter out microplastics. reducing the amount of plastic they use and throw it away.
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