We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
PET Microplastics Affect Human Gut Microbiota Communities During Simulated Gastrointestinal Digestion. First Evidence of Plausible Polymer Biodegradation During Human Digestion
Summary
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.
Abstract Microplastics are a widely recognized global problem due to their prevalence in natural environments and the food chain. However, the impacts of microplastics on human microbiota and their possible biotransformations during the gastrointestinal tract have not been well reported. To evaluate the potential risks of microplastics at the digestive level, completely passing a single dose of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) through the gastrointestinal tract was simulated by combining a harmonised static model and the dynamic gastrointestinal simgi® model, which recreates the different regions of the digestive tract in physiological conditions. PET MPs started several biotransformations in the gastrointestinal tract and appeared to expose the colon in ways that were structurally different from the original forms. We report that the feeding with microplastics alters human microbial colonic community composition, and hypothesize that some members of the colonic microbiota could adhere to MPs surface promoting the formation of biofilms. The work presented here indicates that microplastics are indeed capable of digestive-level health effects. Considering this evidence and the increasing exposure to microplastics in consumer foods and beverages, the impact of plastics on the functionality of the gut microbiome and their potential biodegradation through digestion and intestinal bacteria merits critical investigation.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
PET microplastics affect human gut microbiota communities during simulated gastrointestinal digestion, first evidence of plausible polymer biodegradation during human digestion
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.
Polyethylene Terephthalate Hydrolases in Human Gut Microbiota and Their Implications for Human Health
Researchers searched the genomes of healthy human gut bacteria and discovered enzymes capable of breaking down PET, one of the most common plastics found in food and drink packaging. They identified multiple bacterial species in the human gut that produce these PET-degrading enzymes. This discovery suggests that gut microbes may play a role in processing the microplastics people swallow, though it also raises questions about whether the breakdown products could affect human health.
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
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.
Intestinal Microplastic Retention Reshapes Gut Microbial Ecology through Surface-Associated Colonization and Additive Leaching
Researchers used an advanced gut simulation model to study how retained PET microplastics affect the human intestinal microbiome. They found that microplastics promoted colonization by potentially harmful bacteria on their rough, hydrophobic surfaces while displacing beneficial gut microbes. Additionally, chemical additives leaching from the plastics independently shifted microbial composition, suggesting that microplastics may alter gut ecology through both physical and chemical mechanisms.
Impact of microplastics on human gut microbiota: first evidences from in vitro gut models
Researchers investigated the impact of microplastics on human gut microbiota using in vitro gut models, providing early experimental evidence of how microplastic exposure may disrupt intestinal microbial communities. The study offers foundational data on microplastic-microbiome interactions that are difficult to study directly in humans.