Microplastics can alter gut microbiome, cause intestinal inflammation: FAO

Source: The post is based on the article “Microplastics can alter gut microbiome, cause intestinal inflammation: FAO” published in Down To Earth on 5th July 2023.

What is the News?

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has found that Microplastics and nanoplastics considerably impact human and animal gut microbiomes as well as the environment.

What are Microplastics and Nanoplastics?

Microplastics (0.1 to 5 000 μm) and nanoplastics (0.001 to 0.1 μm) are tiny plastic particles that have potential effects on the environment, animals and human health.

Micro- and nanoplastics are generated from both primary and secondary sources.

Primary sources are those that deliberately created micro- and nanoplastics for consumer and industrial uses, such as exfoliants in cleansers, cosmetics, as drug delivery particles in medicines, and industrial air blasting.

Macroplastic products that disintegrate into micron-sized and smaller particles are the secondary source of micro- and nanoplastics. They occur both terrestrially and in the aquatic environment.

How do microplastics and nanoplastics enter the human body?

There are three key routes for microplastics and nanoplastics to end up in the human body: 

Inhalation: Inhaled airborne microplastics originate from urban dust, and include synthetic textiles and rubber tyres. 

Ingestion: Microplastics will be ingested as they are prevalent in the food chain and water supplies.

Skin contact: Skin membrane was too fine for microplastics or nanoplastics to pass through. But it is possible for them to enter through wounds, sweat glands or hair follicles.

How do microplastics and nanoplastics impact  human and animal gut?

Microplastics and nanoplastics considerably impact human and animal gut microbiomes as well as the environment.

Researchers have studied the effect of microplastics on the gastrointestinal tract and gut microbiota.

It found that injection of these plastics has led to changes in gene markers, biochemical markers, mucus layer, gut permeability, oxidative stress, immune response and liver function.