We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Novel Insights into the Dermal Bioaccessibility and Human Exposure to Brominated Flame Retardant Additives in Microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
This study tested how flame retardant chemicals embedded in microplastics can be absorbed through human skin using a lab-based simulation. The researchers found that these toxic additives can leach out of microplastic particles and pass through the skin barrier, with absorption rates varying by plastic type. This reveals a previously underappreciated route of human exposure to harmful chemicals carried by microplastics, especially through skin contact with contaminated dust or surfaces.
In this study, we optimized and applied an in vitro physiologically based extraction test to investigate the dermal bioaccessibility of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), incorporated as additives in different types of microplastics (MPs), and assess human dermal exposure to these chemicals. The dermal bioaccessibility of PBDEs in polyethylene (PE) MPs was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in polypropylene (PP) MPs. Both log Kow and water solubility influenced the dermal bioaccessibility of PBDEs. For HBCDDs in polystyrene MPs, the dermally bioaccessible fractions were 1.8, 2.0, and 1.6% of the applied dose for α-, β-, and γ-HBCDDs, respectively. MP particle size and the presence of cosmetic formulations (antiperspirant, foundation, moisturizer and sunscreen) influenced the bioaccessibility of PBDEs and HBCDDs in MP matrices at varying degrees of significance. Human exposure to ∑PBDEs and ∑HBCDDs via dermal contact with MPs ranged from 0.02 to 22.2 and 0.01 to 231 ng (kg bw)-1 d-1 and from 0.02 to 6.27 and 0.2 to 65 ng (kg bw)-1 d-1 for adults and toddlers, respectively. Dermal exposure to PBDEs and HBCDDs in MPs is substantial, highlighting for the first time the significance of the dermal pathway as a major route of human exposure to additive chemicals in microplastics.
More Papers Like This
Assessment of human dermal absorption of flame retardant additives in polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics using 3D human skin equivalent models
AI summary Read the abstract
Using 3D lab-grown human skin models, researchers found that flame retardant chemicals (PBDEs) embedded in polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics can be absorbed through the skin. Up to 8% of the flame retardant dose was bioavailable through dermal contact, with factors like sweat, particle size, and plastic type influencing absorption rates. This is the first study to demonstrate that chemical additives in microplastics can enter the body through skin exposure, adding to the known ingestion and inhalation routes.
Enlarging effects of microplastics on adsorption, desorption and bioaccessibility of chlorinated organophosphorus flame retardants in landfill soil particle-size fractions
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how microplastics affect the behavior of chlorinated flame retardant chemicals in landfill soils, including their tendency to be absorbed by the human body during digestion. They found that adding microplastics increased both the retention of these chemicals in soil and their bioaccessibility, raising potential health risks for people exposed to contaminated landfill material. The study presents the first evidence that microplastics can amplify human exposure to toxic flame retardants in landfill settings.
Dermal uptake of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) from skin contact with polystyrene microplastic particles
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists tested whether a toxic flame retardant called HBCDD (found in polystyrene foam products like insulation and food containers) can pass into skin when you touch tiny plastic particles containing it. Using lab-grown human skin, they found small amounts of the chemical did get absorbed into skin tissue, though very little made it all the way into the bloodstream within a day—and sweaty skin absorbed more than dry skin. While the risk from a single exposure seems low, the findings suggest that repeated contact with these microplastics over time, or exposure to more heavily contaminated particles, could add up to a real health concern worth wat
Exploring the utility of 3D-skin models to evaluate trans-dermal uptake of flame retardants from indoor dust and consumer products
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers designed and validated innovative 3D skin tissue models as in vitro alternatives to human and animal tissue, using them to measure how organic flame retardants from indoor dust and consumer products penetrate the skin barrier, providing a more ethical and scalable tool for exposure assessment.
Analytical methodology for unveiling human exposure to (micro)plastic additives
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed laboratory and population-level methods for measuring human exposure to chemicals that leach from plastics — such as bisphenols and flame retardants — detailing how these toxic additives can be tracked through urine and blood tests after entering the body.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.