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Early-life exposure to phthalates and nanoplastics alters gut microbiota and intestinal morphophysiology in rat dams and male offspring
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A study in pregnant rats found that exposure to phthalates (chemicals in plastics) and nanoplastics changed the gut bacteria and intestinal lining in both the mothers and their baby rats, even after the babies were weaned. This matters because it suggests these common plastic pollutants—which humans are also exposed to daily—could disrupt gut health during pregnancy and potentially affect a baby's development, though more research is needed to confirm these effects in humans.
Phthalates and nanoplastics, common contaminants in everyday products and a result of their degradation, respectively, are linked to environmental degradation and human exposure. Research suggests that these substances can affect the gut microbiota and morphology, especially during pregnancy and lactation. Changes in the maternal microbiota can have lasting immunological and inflammatory effects on the offspring. This study investigated the effects of gestational (design 1) and gestational and lactational (design 2) exposure to a mixture of phthalates (PM) and nanoplastics (NPs), isolated or in combination, on colon histology and gut microbiota composition of directly exposed mothers (1), and of the male pups of these mothers (2). Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: CTR (control; vehicle), PM (20 μg/kg/day of phthalate mixture), NPs (1 mg/kg/day nanoplastics NPs-100nm), PM+NPs (20 μg/kg/day PM + 1 mg/kg/day NPs-100nm). Treatment was administered orally from gestational day 5 (GD5) to GD20 for maternal fecal collection (design 1), or from GD10 to postnatal day 22 (PND22) for fecal collection from male pups (design 2). At the end of the treatment period, pregnant rats (GD20) and post-weaning male rats (PND22), 5-6 rats from each group, were euthanized. Colon samples and feces were collected for morphological and microbiome composition analysis, respectively. PM exposure increased goblet cells and reduced class and order Erysipelothichia/Erysipelotrichales at GD20, and reduced class and order Clostridia/Clostridiales at PND22. In addition, PM+NPs exposure increased goblet cells and class and order Bacilli/Lactobacillales and Gammaproteobacteria/Enterobacteriales at GD20. These findings provide evidence that exposure to PM+NPs during gestation affects the maternal microbiota and goblet cells; while this exposure during gestation and lactation causes alterations in the gut microbiota of the offspring, without histological changes. This may also provide information about the mechanistic effects of co-exposure in humans.
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Perinatal exposure to nano-polystyrene: deleterious imprinting on inflammatory bowel diseases
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When pregnant and nursing mice were fed tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics, like those found in our food and water), their offspring grew up with a higher risk of severe gut inflammation later in life, even though the exposure happened only early on. This suggests that plastic exposure during pregnancy and breastfeeding could set the stage for digestive diseases like colitis much later in life, raising concerns about how early-life plastic exposure might affect human gut health long-term.
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Researchers investigated how micro- and nanoplastics disrupt gut barrier function in mice, finding that different surface chemistries caused varying levels of damage. The study suggests that these plastic particles harm the gut by altering the gut microbiome, which then leads to inflammation and weakening of the intestinal barrier that normally keeps harmful substances out of the body.
Phthalates released from microplastics inhibit microbial metabolic activity and induce different effects on intestinal luminal and mucosal microbiota
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Researchers used a simulated human gut model to show that intestinal microbiota accelerates the release of phthalate plasticizers from microplastics, and these released phthalates inhibit microbial metabolic activity and differentially affect luminal versus mucosal gut bacteria.
Emerging role of microplastics and nanoplastics in children's health
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Tiny plastic particles called microplastics and nanoplastics have been found in the placenta, breast milk, and even infant poop, showing that babies are exposed to plastic pollution before and after birth. This review of existing research explains that kids may be especially vulnerable because their bodies are still developing, and these particles may disrupt gut health, hormones, lungs, and even brain development. While more research is needed to fully understand the risks, the findings add to growing concerns about reducing everyday plastic exposure for children.
Differential parental exposure to polystyrene microplastics from weaning period to maturity: Immune homeostasis dysregulation in F1 offspring
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When rat parents drank water containing microplastics for three months, their babies were born with disrupted gut bacteria and weaker immune systems, even though the babies themselves were never directly exposed. Interestingly, the effects differed depending on whether the mother, father, or both parents were exposed, with mother's exposure causing the most damage to offspring's immune organs and gut health. While this is animal research, it raises concerns that microplastic exposure before pregnancy could affect children's immune development in ways that might not show up until later.
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