Humans Are Absorbing Microplastics, and It Is Increasing Our Risk of Cancer, Diabetes, and Heart Disease

A new study highlights the potential health risks posed by increasing levels of micro- and nanoplastics (MnPs) in the human body, linking them to non-communicable diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Researchers advocate for a global approach to investigate the environmental factors contributing to MnP exposure and its effects on human health, emphasizing the urgency of tackling this pollution to mitigate its long-term impacts.

Rising levels of micro- and nanoplastics are potentially increasing the risk of serious health conditions like cancer and diabetes, prompting calls for comprehensive global research into their effects and management.

A new study reveals that rising global levels of micro- and nanoplastics (MnPs) being absorbed into the human body may increase the risk of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic lung disease.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like these are associated with inflammation in the body’s organs. The presence of tiny particles may enhance the absorption of MnPs and their leachates in the digestive and respiratory systems, potentially increasing the risk and severity of NCDs over time.

And MnP concentrations in infant fecal matter are significantly higher than in adults – possibly because plastic is commonly used in infant food preparation, presentation, and storage. Young children’s behaviour such as putting objects in their mouth may also account for this.

Global Research Call to Action

Publishing their findings in Cell Reports Medicine, an international group of researchers is now calling for a global integrated One Health approach to human health and environmental research that will reveal the environmental mechanisms that lie behind the rise in human MnP exposure and the particles’ links with NCDs.

Lead author Professor Stefan Krause, from the University of Birmingham, commented: “Plastic pollution has increased globally – making it critical that we understand the overall health risks associated with MnP exposure.

(A) Hypothesized uptake mechanisms of MnPs through human biological barriers, including via (B) the olfactory bulb, (C) the lung-air barrier, and (D) the gastrointestinal tract, indicating also the systems and organs directly affected by MnPs and the associated MnP impacts and suspected adverse health out comes including NCDs. The suspected particle-size fractionation caused by differences in the uptake mechanisms (A–D) is highlighted in (E), with larger particles being ingested (up to 130 mm) rather than inhaled (less than 2.5 mm) and only the smallest (nanoscale) particles being able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. MnP internalized by routes (C) and (D) reach the wider circulatory system and from there can reach all organs. Credit: University of Birmingham

“We must tackle this pollution at its source to reduce further emissions, as the global dispersal of MnPs that has already happened will remain a cause of concern for centuries to come. For this, we need a systematic investigation into the environmental drivers of human MnP exposure and their impacts on the prevalence and severity of the main NCD groups of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic lung disease.”

Relationship Between MnPs and NCDs

The researchers highlight that the relationship between MnPs and NCDs resembles those of other particles, including natural sources such as pollen or human-made pollutants like diesel exhaust, and MnPs, and engineered nanomaterials, all acting in a similar biological manner. The body treats these as foreign entities triggering the same protective mechanisms – presenting a risk of bodily defenses becoming overwhelmed and boosting the frequency and severity of NCDs.

The incidence of NCDs is increasing across the world with the four main types collectively responsible for 71% of all global deaths annually and creating a predicted economic impact of more than $30 trillion over the next two decades.

Human exposure rates are determined by the environmental fate and transport of MnPs that control the connectivity between spatially and temporally dynamic environmental pollution sources and human exposures (bottom). Together, these dynamic exposure controls determine the combined uptake of MnPs and their additives that may influence the risk and/or severity of NCDs. The text boxes provide some example exposure ranges associated with different MnP sources. Credit: University of Birmingham

Co-author Semira Manaseki-Holland, from the University of Birmingham, commented: “We must better understand how MnPs and NCDs interact, if we are to progress global prevention and treatment efforts toward the UN Sustainable Development Goal on reducing premature mortality from NCDs and other conditions where inflammation are concerned through by 2030.

“This need is critical in low- and low-middle-income countries (LMICs) where NCD prevalence is rising, and plastic pollution levels and exposures are high. Whether we encounter them indoors or outdoors, MnPs are likely adding to global health risks.”

MnPs Ubiquity and Human Exposure

Global pollution trends show that micro- (smaller than 5 mm) and nanoplastic (smaller than 1 µm) particles are now found everywhere. MnPs have been detected in lungs, blood, breast milk, placenta, and stool samples confirming that the particles enter the human body from the environment.

Humans are exposed to MnPs in outdoor and indoor environments through food stuffs, drinks consumption, air, and many other sources including cosmetics and human care products.

MnPs have been found in fish, salt, beer, and plastic bottled drinks or air, where they are released from synthetic clothing materials, plastic fabric bedding during sleep, plastic carpet, or furniture. Other sources can include fertilizer, soil, irrigation, and uptake into food crops or produce.

Human exposure to MnPs varies significantly depending on location and exposure mechanism, with evidence of MnP pollution hotspots in indoor air containing up to 50 times the number of particles encountered outdoors.

Co-author Professor Iseult Lynch, from the University of Birmingham, commented: “We must understand the human health risks associated with MnPs and to do this, we will need to understand the environmental controls of individual exposures. This will require environmental and medical scientists to work very closely together.”

Reference: “The potential of micro- and nanoplastics to exacerbate the health impacts and global burden of non-communicable diseases” by Stefan Krause, Valerie Ouellet, Deonie Allen, Steven Allen, Kerry Moss, Holly A. Nel, Semira Manaseki-Holland and Iseult Lynch, 22 May 2024, Cell Reports Medicine.
DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101581