Health risk due to micro- and nanoplastics in food

Date:
March 24, 2022
Source:
Medical University of Vienna
Summary:
Five grams of plastic particles on average enter the human
gastrointestinal tract per person per week. This is roughly
equivalent to the weight of a credit card. Whether ingested micro-
and nanoplastics pose a health risk is being investigated in
numerous studies but is largely unknown to date. A research team
has now summarized the current state of scientific knowledge.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
Five grams of plastic particles on average enter the human
gastrointestinal tract per person per week. This is roughly equivalent to
the weight of a credit card. Whether ingested micro- and nanoplastics pose
a health risk is being investigated in numerous studies but is largely
unknown to date. A research team from MedUni Vienna has now summarised
the current state of scientific knowledge. The review article has just
been published in the journalExposure & Health.


========================================================================== Medical research on the topic centres on the digestive system where micro-
and nanoplastic particles (MNPs) can be found in tissue. Experimental
studies indicate that ingested MNPs passing through the gastrointestinal
tract lead to changes in the composition of the gut microbiome. The
research team led by Elisabeth Gruber (Division of Visceral Surgery
of MedUni Vienna's Department for General Surgery) and Lukas Kenner
(Department of Pathology MedUni Vienna, Comprehensive Cancer Center
(CCC) MedUni Vienna and Vienna General Hospital, Department of Laboratory Animal Pathology of VetMedUni) report that such changes are associated
with the development of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, obesity or
chronic liver disease.

In addition to the effects on the gut microbiome, scientists also
described specific molecular mechanisms that facilitate the uptake of
MNPs into gut tissue. Using specific analyses, it was shown that MNPs
in the gastrointestinal tract could increasingly be taken up into tissue
under certain physicochemical conditions and activate mechanisms involved
in local inflammatory and immune responses. Nanoplastics in particular
are associated with biochemical processes that are crucially involved
in carcinogenesis.

Plastic particles also in drinking water Nanoplastics are defined as being
less than 0.001 millimetre in size, while microplastics, at 0.001 to 5 millimetres, are to some extent still visible to the naked eye. MNPs
enter the food chain from packaging waste, among other sources. The
plastic particles are not only trafficked into the body via food such
as marine life or sea salt in particular, drinking also plays a part.

According to a study, anyone who drinks the recommended 1.5 to two
litres of water a day from plastic bottles ingests around 90,000 plastic particles per year in this way alone. However, those who choose tap
water can, depending on their geographical location, reduce the amount
ingested to 40,000 plastic particles. Researchers also demonstrated
widespread contamination of mineral water with xenohormones leached from
PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles.

Xenohormones are known to exhibit oestrogenic activity which can act carcinogenic in the body.

The potential adverse health effects of plastic particles could be
particularly impactful for people with a chronic disease burden, says
Lukas Kenner. "A healthy gut is more likely to ward off the health
risk. But local changes in the gastrointestinal tract, such as those
present in chronic disease or even negative stress, could make them
susceptible to the harmful effects of MNPs."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Medical_University_of_Vienna. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Gruber, E.S., Stadlbauer, V., Pichler, V. et al. To Waste or Not to
Waste: Questioning Potential Health Risks of Micro- and Nanoplastics
with a Focus on Their Ingestion and Potential Carcinogenicity. Expo
Health, 2022 DOI: 10.1007/s12403-022-00470-8 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220324130253.htm

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