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Effects of thermal exposure to disposable plastic tableware on human gut microbiota and metabolites: A quasi-experimental study
Summary
In a human study, people who ate hot food from disposable plastic tableware for one month had more microplastics in their stool and significant changes in their gut bacteria and urine metabolites compared to those using non-plastic dishes. The changes were linked to effects on the nervous system, energy metabolism, and inflammation, and some gut bacteria shifts persisted even after stopping plastic tableware use. This is one of the few direct human studies showing that everyday plastic food containers release microplastics that measurably change gut health.
The aim of this quasi-experimental study was to determine the alterations in gut microbiota and metabolism in humans who consume hot food served in disposable plastic tableware (DPT). Participants in the exposure and control groups were provided three hot meals in DPT (n = 30) or non-DPT (n = 30), respectively. After a month of observation, individuals in the exposure group discontinued the three meals provided in DPT (n = 27) for 1 month as the post-exposure group. Fecal samples were collected and tested for microplastics (MPs) detection using LDIR and gut microbiota identification based on the 16 S rRNA. Urine samples were used for metabolite analysis using LC-MS/MS. Results showed that the level of MPs in feces was lower in the post-exposure group compared with the exposure group. Furthermore, the abundance of the phyla Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidota in the exposure and post-exposure groups were significantly different compared with the control group. Changes in microbiota abundance and metabolite levels were mainly associated with central nervous system effects, energy metabolism, and inflammation, suggesting that thermal exposure to DPT for 1 month has considerable health effects.