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Assessing potential toxicity and metal bioavailability of secondary microplastics using in-vitro human gastric models
Summary
This study assessed the potential toxicity and metal bioavailability of sediment samples from an aquatic environment, evaluating how co-occurring microplastics may influence metal toxicity by altering metal speciation and uptake. The results highlight complex interactions between plastic particles and metal contaminants in sediments.
Human Microplastic (MP) oral exposure is estimated at <168,000 environmental MP particles per day. Oral exposure risk from MP is not well understood, specifically within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) environment. Observations of inflammation, down regulation of cell growth, metabolic disruption and reactive oxygen species post MP exposure have all occur in GIT models. However, these studies often have limitations such as the use of a primary polymer MP that does not accurately represent environmental exposure which occurs from finished product plastic 1 materials.
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