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Microplastics are detected in human gallstones and have the ability to form large cholesterol-microplastic heteroaggregates
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Researchers found microplastics inside the gallstones of all 16 patients they studied, with younger patients (under 50) having higher levels. In mice, microplastics combined with cholesterol to form large clumps and worsened gallstone formation, suggesting these tiny plastic particles may play a role in gallstone disease by binding to cholesterol in the body.
Ubiquitous pollution due to microplastics through the food chain is a major cause of various deleterious effects on the human health. The aim of this study was to determine the existence of microplastics and the internal mechanism of microplastics as accelerators of cholelithiasis. Gallstones were collected from 16 patients after cholecystectomy, and microplastics in the gallstones were detected through laser direct infrared and pyrolysis gas chromatographymass spectrometry examinations. Mice model of gallstone were constructed with or without different diameters of microplastic (0.5, 5 and 50 µm). The affinity between microplastic and cholesterol or bilirubin was tested by co-culturing and qualified using molecular dynamics simulations. Finally, altered gut microbiota among the groups were identified using 16 s rRNA sequencing. The presence of microplastics in the gallstones of all the patients were confirmed. Microplastic content was significantly higher in younger chololithiasis patients (age<50 years). Mice fed a high-cholesterol diet with microplastic drinks showed more severe chololithiasis. In terms of the mechanism, microplastics showed a higher affinity for cholesterol than for bilirubin. Significant alterations in the gut microbiota have also been identified after microplastic intake in mice. Our study revealed the presence of microplastics in human gallstones, showcasing their potential to aggravate chololithiasis by forming large cholesterol-microplastic heteroaggregates and altering the gut microbiota.
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Researchers report that microplastics found in arterial plaque are associated with significantly higher rates of heart attack, stroke, and death, adding to accumulating evidence that microplastic exposure may contribute to cardiovascular disease risk through mechanisms that are still being investigated.
Integrated analysis of microplastics in human gallbladder and bile using multimodal detection techniques
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Researchers performed the first detailed analysis of microplastics in human gallbladder tissue and bile samples using three complementary analytical techniques. They found microplastics present in all 23 patient samples, with multiple polymer types identified across both tissue and fluid. The study provides new evidence that microplastics accumulate in the human biliary system, expanding our understanding of where these particles end up in the body.
Presence of microplastics in carotid plaques linked to cardiovascular events
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Researchers found that patients with carotid artery disease who had detectable microplastics and nanoplastics within their carotid plaques faced a significantly higher risk of death or major cardiovascular events compared to patients whose plaques contained no detectable plastic particles.
Micro- and nanoplastics are elevated in femoral atherosclerotic plaques compared with undiseased arteries
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Researchers found significantly higher concentrations of microplastics and nanoplastics in diseased arterial plaques from human patients with limb-threatening vascular disease compared to healthy arteries, adding to growing evidence that these particles accumulate in cardiovascular tissue and may play a role in artery disease.
Study links microplastics with human health problems – but there’s still a lot we don’t know
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Researchers highlight a study linking microplastic exposure to human health problems, noting that plastics from everyday products like packaging, clothing, and toys shed particles that accumulate in the body, while emphasizing that significant scientific uncertainty remains about the nature and severity of health effects.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.