Hello friends, I hope you’re all having a great first weekend of spring.
Today, I want to cover a topic I discovered a few months ago through a podcast, one that profoundly affects all of our lives yet I believe under-discussed. The latest research regarding microplastics and their impact on human health is both alarming and crucial. This is an issue that touches everyone, and I firmly believe it merits deeper exploration and understanding.
Plastic has become the biggest evil in our society, for some really good reasons we have come to hate plastic and its impact on the environment. We are all very familiar with the images of turtles strangled by plastic straws and by the images of beautiful beaches poisoned by plastic waste. And I personally have for long time been a supporter of the Ocean Cleanup, as seeing plastic waste in the water breaks my heart every summer.
Having said that I also want to acknowledge the incredible impact that plastic has had on human development. Plastic's malleability and durability enabled us to innovate rapidly, significantly elevating our quality of life in several fields. Consider the transformative impact of plastic on the healthcare industry, particularly in terms of sterilization, which has been a lifesaver in countless scenarios. Plastic-wrapped syringes, gloves, and IV bags, all ensuring patient safety and preventing the spread of infections. From single-use surgical instruments to sterile packaging for medications, plastic has played a critical role in maintaining hygiene and saving lives. Similarly, cheap plastic water bottles were a key enabler of low cost clean water and food in developing countries. Plastic’s contribution is undeniably immense; plastic made numerous products accessible and affordable, changing the way we live, work, and interact.
But this is not what I want to talk about!
The impact of plastic on the environment is something that you all know a lot about, as we’ve been bombarded with information for the last decades. The thing I want to talk about is something that has come to surface thanks to recent studies that highlighted how relevant is the impact of microplastics on our health.
Recent studies have shed light on the omnipresence of these microplastics, especially in bottled water, which has triggered global concern.
The Critical Lens of Science on Microplastics
Microplastics, by definition, are minuscule plastic fragments, typically less than five millimeters in size, often resulting from the degradation of larger plastic items.
Recently there have been several studies on the impact of microplastics on human biology, and the most groundbreaking is a study conducted by researchers from the Hong Kong Metropolitan University. Utilizing advanced techniques like fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, the team delved into the prevalence of microplastics in bottled water.
This team used a form of spectroscopy, kind of a multispectral light system shining light at different wavelengths on the liquid in a bottle in a plastic bottle to figure out how many of these little plastic particles there were in the liquid. In doing that they found that there was on the order of 10,000 little plastic particles per liter of water.
The study delineated a clear distinction between different types of water, with mineral water exhibiting significantly higher microplastic content compared to distilled and spring water.
What does that mean, and why should I care?
This research is transformational for several reasons. Firstly, it provides concrete evidence of microplastic contamination in a commonly consumed product, thereby highlighting a direct route of exposure to humans. Secondly, it underscores the limitations of previous research which often overlooked smaller microplastics due to technical constraints, suggesting that the extent of microplastic pollution could be far greater than previously understood. Lastly, it propels the discourse on microplastics from an environmental issue to a direct human health concern, necessitating urgent exploration into the long-term effects of these particles on the human body.
Health Risks of Microplastics
A critical concern is how these tiny particles interact with the human body. While microplastics themselves, particularly PET plastics found in bottles, are not known to be inherently carcinogenic or genotoxic (meaning they don’t cause cancer or change DNA), their size and physical properties present unique challenges.
The key finding of this body of research is that microplastics are small enough to cross biological barriers, including the blood-brain barrier. This poses a significant risk as they can accumulate in vital organs, including the brain, potentially disrupting normal function.
There's a growing concern about the potential for microplastics to cause physical blockage or inflammation within the body. Some studies suggest that these particles, once inside the body, might interact with cellular and molecular processes, potentially leading to a range of health issues.
The ability of microplastics to "cross biological barriers" means they can penetrate and pass through the protective boundaries that typically safeguard sensitive areas of the body. These barriers include the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from harmful substances, and possibly the placental barrier, which shields the fetus during pregnancy. Such penetration can lead to microplastics accumulating in vital organs, potentially causing health issues.
Earlier, the lack of awareness about this capability stemmed from scientific limitations: this research is opening up a whole new wave of investigations, because we do not have an easy way to scan a body and say is there plastic in it how much plastic is there because there isn't a good chemical signature for it. What this team did is they light to look in the liquid to find the Plastics which we can't easily do in the body today.
Older methods primarily detected larger microplastic particles, overlooking the smaller ones that are more likely to cross these barriers. Advances in detection techniques and a deeper understanding of nano-sized particles have now brought this crucial aspect of microplastic behavior to light.
Another critical aspect of microplastic research focuses on their composition. Many microplastics contain various additives used during the manufacturing process, such as plasticizers, flame retardants, and other chemicals. These substances can leach from the plastics and pose additional health risks, particularly as they accumulate over time. For example, some of these chemicals are known endocrine disruptors, which can interfere with the body's hormonal systems.
Moreover, the cumulative effect of regularly consuming microplastics through beverages and other sources remains a critical area of research. While no direct causal link has been established yet between microplastic ingestion and specific health conditions, the growing body of evidence suggests a potential association that cannot be ignored.
PET plastics and sunlight exposure
One of the key insights from this research is that the most “risky” plastic, from an health point of view, is PET plastics. These are the type of plastics commonly used in beverage bottles, which are already are under scrutiny for their role in microplastics pollution, especially when exposed to sunlight.
Exposure to sunlight can degrade these plastics, leading to the release of microplastics. This degradation process is concerning because it potentially accelerates the release of microplastics into the environment, including water sources, and consequently increases the risk of human ingestion.
Recent studies on cardiovascular risk due to microplastics
Recently some Italian scientists published a research on the New England Journal of Medicine, where they analysed the arterial plaque of 257 individuals, revealing that 150 of them had plastic particles in their bloodstream. Those with plastic contamination faced a significantly higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or death compared to those without such pollutants.
This study is crucial as it highlights how microplastics can integrate into human tissues and potentially contribute to health complications. The presence of microplastics in arterial plaque could have implications for understanding the etiology of cardiovascular diseases, as well as for the broader investigation into the ways microplastics interact with human tissues.
Global Response and Personal Lifestyle Changes
The scientific revelations about microplastics in our environment have sparked a global response, leading to both policy initiatives and changes in personal lifestyle choices.
Internationally, there's an increasing push towards stricter regulations on plastic production and waste management. Some countries are introducing legislation to reduce single-use plastics and promote recycling. On an individual level, awareness of microplastics' impact is leading to changes in consumer behavior. Many people are now opting for alternatives to plastic containers, like glass or stainless steel, particularly for storing and consuming food and beverages.
Notably, a significant shift is occurring in how bottled water is perceived. And this recent body of research seems to confirm that’s indeed the most relevant category to address. This is a trend that we’re all seeing in plain sight, with a lot of people moving away from single use plastic bottles to re-fillable bottles. While this trend is mainly due to environmental considerations, it would surely benefit also from the health point of view.
It's a little bit more inconvenient but it is very scary and I think that it does alter the phenotype of the human body over time and I think you would have to be insane to bet against against that. I suspect when you look at the rates of depression and autism and Alzheimer's and Dementia and autoimmune diseases Crohn's rheumatoid arthritis to think that all of these environmental factors have no impact I think is is taking a very scary bet.
Looking Ahead: Research and Solutions
Scientists and environmentalists are exploring several avenues to mitigate the effects of microplastics. One promising area is the development of biodegradable plastics, which would significantly reduce the longevity of plastic waste in our environment. There are also efforts to engineer microbes capable of breaking down existing plastics into harmless substances, a potentially game-changing approach in waste management.
In parallel, there is a push for stronger regulations and policies that could drive a reduction in plastic production and encourage recycling and reusability. These measures, combined with growing public awareness and behavioral change, could significantly reduce the future generation of microplastics.
Having said this, I don’t know about you but, while waiting for the policy impacts, I will try to limit as much as possible the use of plastic bottled water.. that seems a no brainer!!
Have a fantastic weekend!
Giovanni