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Differential Effects of the Human Digestive Process on Petroleum- and Bio-Based Microplastics Following an In Vitro Approach to Determine Polymer Integrity and Seafood Digestibility
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Researchers used an in vitro human digestion model to assess how PET and PLA microplastics affect the digestibility of three seafood species, finding that both plastic types partially resisted gastrointestinal degradation and that they differentially altered nutrient absorption from the seafood.
Plastic pollution is a major environmental concern. In humans, ingestion through contaminated seafood is a recognized exposure route to microplastics, which may impact gut health. However, the extent to which microplastics interfere with digestion and nutrient absorption remains unclear. To this end, the present work aimed to assess, for the first time, the influence of microplastic particles (polyethylene terephthalate, PET, and polylactic acid, PLA) on the digestibility of three selected seafood species (gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata; Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar; and hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria) using an in vitro human digestion model. Furthermore, this study evaluated the potential degradability of microplastics along the gastrointestinal tract and examined how particle type and exposure level (10 or 20 particles) may influence seafood digestibility. Protein digestibility in S. aurata and S. salar filets was ~86%, while in M. mercenaria it was ~73%, regardless of microplastic presence or quantity. PET and PLA integrity was affected differently by digestion, with PLA showing greater surface degradation. These findings provide preliminary insight into the mutual interactions between microplastics and the human digestive process, highlighting the importance for further research into how the leaching of plastics additives may or may not influence the bioaccessibility of essential nutrients.
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Researchers simulated gastrointestinal digestion and found that PET microplastics altered human gut microbiota community composition, and provided first evidence of plausible partial polymer biodegradation during passage through the human digestive tract.
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Researchers used complementary in vitro gut models to study how microplastics behave during human digestion, finding that digestive conditions alter microplastic surface properties and their interactions with gut cells. The work advances understanding of how ingested microplastics may affect the human digestive system.
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Ten digestion protocols for extracting microplastics from seafood were compared across a broad range of species, evaluating their ability to fully digest tissue without damaging polymer integrity, providing a basis for selecting suitable methods for human exposure assessment.
Desorption of bisphenol A from microplastics under simulated gastrointestinal conditions
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Researchers investigated bisphenol A desorption from three types of microplastics under simulated gastrointestinal conditions, finding that ingested microplastics can release adsorbed BPA during digestion, posing potential health risks.
PET microplastics affect human gut microbiota communities during simulated gastrointestinal digestion, first evidence of plausible polymer biodegradation during human digestion
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Using a simulated human digestive system, researchers tracked what happens to PET microplastics as they pass through the stomach and intestines. The microplastics were structurally changed during digestion and appeared to alter the composition of gut bacteria, with some microbes forming biofilms on the plastic surfaces. This is the first evidence that microplastics may be partially broken down during human digestion and could disrupt the gut microbiome, which plays a critical role in overall health.
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