“A dangerous pollutant surrounding us” increases our chances of contracting fatal diseases

A new study reveals that rising global levels of micro- and nano-plastics (MnPs) absorbed by the human body may increase the chances of developing cancer, diabetes, and heart and lung diseases.

Non-communicable diseases (NCD), such as those mentioned above, are associated with inflammatory conditions in the body's organs, where uptake of MnPs within the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts increases, which may increase the risk and severity of NCD in the future.

MnPs are treated by the body as invasive entities that trigger protective mechanisms that overwhelm physical defenses, with the frequency and severity of non-communicable diseases increasing.

An international group of researchers is calling for an integrated global approach in human health and environmental research, to uncover the ecological mechanisms that underlie increasing human exposure to MnP and molecules associated with non-communicable diseases (NCD).

Lead author Professor Stefan Kraus, from the University of Birmingham, said: “Plastic pollution has increased globally, making it crucial that we understand the overall health risks associated with exposure to MnP. We must address this pollution at its source to reduce further emissions, as global spread "POPs that have already occurred will remain a cause for concern for centuries to come."

Co-author Samira Manaseki Holland from the University of Birmingham said: “We must better understand how MnPs and non-communicable diseases interact if we are to make progress in global prevention and treatment efforts towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal on reducing premature deaths from non-communicable diseases.” infectious diseases and other inflammation-related conditions by 2030.”

“This need is critical in low- and middle-income countries, where the prevalence of non-communicable diseases is increasing, and levels of plastic pollution and exposure are rising,” she added. 

The researchers explained that microparticles (smaller than 5 mm) and nanoplastic particles (smaller than 1 micrometer) are now everywhere, as MnPs have been detected in samples of the lungs, blood, breast milk, placenta and feces, which confirms that the particles enter the human body from the environment.

Humans are exposed to MnPs in outdoor and indoor environments through food and beverage consumption, as well as the use of cosmetics and human care products.

MnPs have also been found in fish, salt, plastic bottled drinks or in the air, where they are released from synthetic clothing materials, plastic carpeting or furniture. Other sources can include: fertilizers, soil, irrigation, and absorption of food crops or food products.

Human exposure to MnPs varies widely depending on location and mechanism of exposure, with evidence that MnP pollution hotspots in indoor air contain about 50 times the number of particles than humans are exposed to outdoors.

The results were published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine.