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Toxicological impact of polyvinyl chloride microplastic-contaminated food: Evidence from a mouse model
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Scientists fed mice food contaminated with PVC microplastics (a common plastic found in packaging and pipes) for 13 weeks to see what happens inside the body. At higher doses, the plastic particles damaged the liver, kidneys, and intestines, slowed growth, deformed red blood cells, and weakened the body's natural defense against cell damage—even though the plastic itself mostly stayed in the gut. While this was a mouse study, not a human one, it raises real concerns about what swallowing microplastics in our food might be doing to our bodies over time.
Microplastic pollution has emerged as a critical environmental and public health concern, induced by the widespread presence and toxicity of various polymers across diverse environments, food systems, and animal bodies. However, the toxicological assessment of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is still limited to a narrow range of animal groups. In this study, we evaluated the effect of dietary exposure to different concentrations (5%, 10% and 15%) of PVC microplastics (∼125 μm) in mice over a 13-week period. Exposure to high concentrations (10% and 15%) of microplastics adversely affected growth, blood cell morphology, oxidative stress biomarker, and induced the histopathological changes of the liver, intestine, and kidney, though microplastic accumulation was solely observed in gut tissue. High concentration of microplastics significantly reduced the growth but markedly elevated the hepatosomatic index in mice. The red blood cells of treated groups appeared abnormal in shape, while no significant difference was found in the total blood cell count. Among the oxidative stress biomarkers, serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentration was significantly lower in the blood serum of treated mice. In addition, treatment with higher concentrations of PVC microplastics triggered vascular congestion and hepatocyte vacuolization in liver, glomerular atrophy in kidney, and altered crypt cell structure in intestine of mice. Thus, this study provides important insights into the consequences of PVC microplastic exposure in mammalian organisms, including humans, and carries significant implications for mitigating microplastic contamination in food systems.
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The Histopathological and Genetic Effects of Long-Term Treatment with High-Molecular-Weight Polyvinyl Chloride on Various Organs of Young Wistar Rats
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Researchers fed young Wistar rats food containing 1% or 2% polyvinyl chloride for eight weeks, finding histopathological damage to the intestines, liver, kidney, and spleen, along with genetic effects including DNA fragmentation, demonstrating organ-level toxicity of chronic PVC microplastic ingestion.
Intestinal effects of ingested PVC microplastic in Wistar rats
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Researchers fed Wistar rats PVC microplastics and assessed intestinal effects including permeability, colonic morphology, and inflammatory markers. The findings showed that ingested PVC microplastics caused measurable changes in gut integrity and inflammation, contributing evidence for gastrointestinal toxicity.
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Researchers exposed adult mice to PVC microplastics for 60 days and observed significant damage to the intestinal barrier, including reduced mucus production and increased gut permeability. The exposure also caused notable shifts in gut bacteria composition and altered metabolic profiles in ways associated with intestinal injury. These findings suggest that chronic microplastic ingestion may disrupt gut health by weakening the intestinal lining and changing the microbiome.
Potential Impact Microplastic Polyethylene Terephthalate on Mice
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Researchers studied how polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics affect mice when ingested, tracking where the particles end up in the body. They found that microplastics accumulated in various organs and caused measurable biological effects. The study adds to growing evidence that common plastic types found in food packaging may pose health risks when consumed.
Distribution and Tissue Damage After a Single Microplastic Exposure in Mice
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Researchers administered fluorescent microplastics to mice by oral gavage and tracked their distribution through the body over several hours. They found direct evidence of microplastic particles in the blood, lungs, brain, kidneys, liver, and spleen, with fluorescence peaking at two hours after exposure. Histological examination revealed mild tissue damage including congestion in the liver and lungs, providing evidence that ingested microplastics can enter the bloodstream and reach multiple organs.
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