Micro(nano)plastics in food system: potential health impacts on human intestinal system

TiO2 nanoparticles combined with polystyrene nanoplastics aggravated reproductive toxicity in female mice via exacerbating intestinal barrier disruption

“…NPLs, an emerging contaminant, have been found in a variety of foods, including drinking water, aquatic food, and terrestrial products. 14 Furthermore, TiO 2 NPs is a representative food additive in the food industry. However, most studies have only looked at the health effects of NPLs or TiO 2 NPs on their own, and the combined impacts of these contaminants are poorly known.…”

“…10 Moreover, M/NPLs enter the food system through food chain delivery, 11 food packaging and container release, 12 and contamination during food processing, 13 and also have been detected in commercial sugar, aquatic food, and drinking water. 14 One study estimates that the annual maximum intake of MPs from food by humans is approximately 1.42 × 10 5 -1.54 × 10 5 grains/person. 15 It is worth noting that MPs have been detected in the human placenta (size 5-10 μm), blood (size ≥ 700 nm), lung (size < 5.5 μm), and feces (size 50-500 μm), which confirmed that MPs can be ingested and accumulated in the human body.…”

The gut microbiota, a key to understanding the health implications of micro(nano)plastics and their biodegradation

“…Thus, different biotechnological solutions for plastic biodegradation involving microorganisms and their polymer‐active enzymes, as well as gut microbial communities, are garnering increasing interest. At this point, it is critical to evaluate whether intestinal microbiota (i.e., human gut bacteria) influences the composition and structure of ingested MNPs, which may modify and determine the characteristics of the particles, changing their ultimate biological effects (Fournier et al, 2021 ; Wen, Zhao, Wang, et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Furthermore, MNPs reaching the food chain can absorb biomolecules and other materials from their environment (natural matter, chemical contaminants, and pathogenic microorganisms) known to enhance cellular uptake (Ramsperger et al, 2020 ). Another issue is that dietary MNPs will be subjected to technological processing treatments during food production or cooking before ingested, which could alter the number and characteristics of plastic particles that come into contact with the human body (Wen, Zhao, Wang, et al, 2022 ). Finally, although concern over food contamination by MNPs is evident and government agencies have called for assessment of human health risks from exposure to plastics from ingestion, there are no food consumption regulations currently in place regarding exposure to plastics or any other regulations regarding plastic exposure.…”

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of accumulation and biodistribution of polystyrene nanoplastics in zebrafish (Danio rerio) via artificial freshwater

“…30,31 Thermogravimetry (TGA) combined with thermal desorption GC-MS (TGA-GC-MS) is also used to detect MNPs. 32 However, because of the mass range of GC-MS, it is too narrow to analyze high-molecular-weight compounds such as polymer plastics. 22 Therefore, considering the quantitative techniques for NPs which are still in their infancy, 33 the additional development and detailed qualitative and quantitative research methods of NPs are important and will help us to: (1) better investigate and understand how NPs behave in the environment and ( 2) decide how to approach future toxicity or biological impact research on the target tissues.…”