We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Exploring saliva as a biofluid for biomonitoring of diet-related contaminants exposure: insights from a literature mining approach
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers systematically reviewed over 500 diet-related contaminants measured in saliva and found that while nitrate, arsenic, pesticides, and advanced glycation end-products correlate meaningfully with systemic levels, microplastics show weak or absent correlation — reflecting localized rather than cumulative exposure — with standardized collection protocols urgently needed before saliva can serve as a reliable biomonitoring matrix.
BACKGROUND: Human biomonitoring (HBM) is crucial for evaluating exposure to diet-related contaminants, whose effects may pose substantial health risks. Saliva is recognized as a promising non-invasive biological matrix due to its ease of collection and potential to reflect external and systemic exposure. However, suitability for monitoring dietary hazardous compounds remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential of saliva as a biomonitoring matrix for diet-related contaminants, identify compounds with robust diet-related associations, and highlight knowledge gaps. METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted to screen over 500 diet-related contaminants analyzed in saliva. Detailed information was extracted only for contaminants quantitatively measured in saliva, including concentration ranges, sample sizes, and analytical methods. Evidence of correlations with systemic concentrations, exposure pathways, and individual or lifestyle factors was compiled into a FAIR database to provide an integrated evaluation of saliva's biomonitoring potential. RESULTS: Only a limited subset of contaminant groups, including nitrite/nitrate, heavy metals, bisphenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), biogenic amines, pesticides, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), perchlorate, microplastics (MPs), parabens and phthalates, have been quantitatively measured in saliva. Compounds such as nitrate, arsenic, AGEs, pesticides and perchlorate demonstrate moderate to strong correlations between salivary and systemic levels, supporting saliva's potential to estimate exposure. Conversely, substances like PAHs, MPs, phthalates and parabens generally show weak or no correlation, reflecting recent or localised exposures rather than cumulative burden. Salivary composition is influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including diet, oral microbiota, physiology, and sampling conditions, resulting in high interindividual variability. SIGNIFICANCE: Despite challenges, low salivary concentrations and lack of standardized collection protocols, saliva offers advantages for biomonitoring vulnerable populations, such as children and pregnant women. Harmonized collection procedures, validated sensitive methods, predictive models accounting for variability and exposure context, could establish saliva as a reliable complementary or alternative matrix for assessing human exposure to dietary and environmental contaminants. IMPACT: This systematic review synthesizes findings from 104 studies, covering over 500 diet-related contaminants measured in saliva, and compiles them into a FAIR database, providing the most comprehensive resource to date for saliva-based biomonitoring. Compounds such as nitrate, arsenic, advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), pesticides, and perchlorate show meaningful correlations with systemic levels, supporting saliva's potential as a non-invasive matrix for assessing human exposure. To fully realize saliva's potential, standardized collection protocols, validated analytical methods, and predictive models that account for interindividual variability and exposure context are urgently needed, enabling more accurate and ethical monitoring of vulnerable populations.
More Papers Like This
Methods for identifying microplastics in human biofluids: scoping review
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic particles called microplastics are showing up in human body fluids, and scientists are still figuring out the best way to detect and measure them. This review looked at existing studies to compare the different testing methods researchers use, finding that there's currently no standard approach—which makes it hard to know exactly how much plastic is in our bodies or compare results across studies. This matters because before we can understand the health risks of microplastics, scientists need reliable, consistent ways to detect them in the first place.
Lifetime exposure to microplastics: From consumption to distribution in the body
AI summary Read the abstract
This review pulls together existing research to estimate that over a lifetime, the average person swallows or breathes in about 224 million tiny plastic particles, and roughly 59% of that stays in the body rather than being flushed out. Exposure builds up most during adulthood, mainly from foods like edible oils and fruits, plus air, and these particles have been found lodged in various organs, including surprisingly high levels in ovarian fluid. While scientists are still figuring out exactly how this affects health, the sheer scale of lifelong buildup is a strong signal that reducing plastic exposure, especially in food and packaging, deserves serious
Microplastics in human body: a narrative on routes of exposure to contamination and potential health effects
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic particles from our environment and food are getting into our bodies through eating, drinking, and breathing, and this review of existing research shows they've been found in organs like the liver, heart, and lungs. Scientists are concerned that as these particles build up over time, they may cause cell damage, inflammation, and stress on the body, though more research is still needed to fully understand the long-term health risks. The takeaway: microplastic exposure is nearly impossible to avoid completely, but reducing contact with plastic packaging and products may help limit how much ends up in your body.
Microplastics in Humans: A Critical Review of Biomonitoring Evidence and Immune–Metabolic Associations
AI summary Read the abstract
This review critically evaluates the current evidence on microplastic detection in human tissues and biological fluids, focusing on methodological challenges and the potential biological mechanisms of action. Researchers found significant variation across studies due to differences in analytical techniques and sample handling protocols. The study highlights emerging evidence linking microplastic presence in the body to immune and metabolic disruptions, while noting that standardized detection methods are urgently needed.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.