2023-06-14 10:31:50
The research focuses on polystyrene, which is processed in food packaging, and nanotubes, which are used in sports equipment and electronics, among other things, and shows for the first time how plastics enter the human body at the molecular level.
On the board and in the air
According to the research, there are two main routes through which the particles enter the body: we swallow them and we breathe them in.
Microplastics can be absorbed through the digestive system if, for example, you eat fish that contains the particles.
In a food research in Italy in 2020, researchers found microplastics in fruits and vegetables, which they probably sucked up from the ground.
Another study found traces of microplastics in German drinking water.
Microplastics can also enter the body through respiration.
Plastic particles, especially from textiles such as clothing and carpets, float in the air without being visible to the naked eye. This is especially true indoors.
These particles may pose a bigger problem than the particles we ingest through our food.
A research from the University of Plymouth compared the amount of microplastics in mussels with that in an average house.
The conclusion is that the chance that the body absorbs microplastics through the air in the house is much greater than the risk that we ingest microplastics through food.
Plastic can cause inflammation
Once the microplastic reaches the bloodstream, it is engulfed by macrophages.
Macrophages are white blood cells that neutralize foreign materials as part of the body’s immune response.
A receptor on macrophages, TIM4, binds to the microplastic in an attempt to break it down.
If TIM4 receptors are damaged while binding to the microplastics, the immune system triggers an inflammatory response in the body.
Microplastic is a foreign substance that we cannot digest or absorb. Therefore, it can cause irritation in the body.
In many cases, however, the receptor remains intact when it binds to the microplastic and no inflammation develops. However, according to the study, the microplastic remains in the body.
Whether the receptor is damaged depends on the type, size and shape of the microplastic.
Dangerous organs
Animal tests indicate that, in the worst case, the plastic particles can settle in the vital organs.
Experiments on mice have shown that exposure to microplastics can disrupt the intestinal tract, cause inflammation, affect sperm quality, lower testosterone levels and negatively impact learning and memory.
An investigation from Leiden University shows that the minuscule particles can affect chicken embryos in such a way that malformations of the nervous system, heart and eyes occur.
According to the Japanese study, there is still a lack of convincing results that show whether microplastics accumulate in our organs over a long period of time.
In your own life, you can reduce exposure to plastic by paying close attention in the supermarket and clothing store. You can buy products and food that are not wrapped in plastic, bring and reuse your own bags, and avoid plastic water bottles. If you need to renew your wardrobe, choose brands that make shirts, pants and t-shirts from plastic-free material.
#Scientists #plastic #body