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Morphological distribution of aquatic microplastics in San Francisco Bay: implications for liver disease pathogenesis — a secondary analysis of a regional California Water Boards dataset
Original title: Morphological distribution of aquatic microplastics in San Francisco Bay: implications for liver disease pathogenesis — a secondary analysis of a regional California Water Boards dataset
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Scientists analyzed thousands of tiny plastic particles found in San Francisco Bay's water and found that skinny, thread-like fibers are becoming more common over time, along with irregularly shaped fragments. This matters because these particular shapes, especially long, thin fibers, are the kind that lab studies suggest may trigger inflammation and cell damage in the liver, meaning the *type* of plastic we're exposed to could be just as important as how much of it we encounter.
Background and aims Microplastics (MPs) are widespread environmental pollutants, and there is growing evidence that they have potential impacts on human health. However, the role of particle morphology in mediating biological responses, particularly in liver disease, is still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to quantify the morphological distribution of MPs in aquatic environments and to assess their potential biological relevance based on experimental evidence. Methods A secondary analysis was conducted using a publicly available dataset of 19,874 MPs collected from surface waters of San Francisco Bay (2015–2020). Morphological, size, color, and spatial data were analyzed using R (v4.3.1). Temporal trends, spatial autocorrelation, and size-geometry relationships were assessed. Results Fragments (49.8%) and fibers (40.3%) dominated the dataset. A significant temporal increase in fiber abundance was observed between 2015 and 2018 ( p = 0.012). These fibers had extreme aspect ratios (> 50:1), and spatial clustering was identified in the Central Bay ( p < 0.001). Conclusion These results suggest that microplastic morphology, particularly high-aspect-ratio fibers and irregular fragments, is a critical parameter in assessing environmental exposure and provides biological plausibility for oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways relevant to liver disease pathogenesis.
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