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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Food & Water Gut & Microbiome Sign in to save

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C&EN Global Enterprise 2019

Summary

This letter to the editor discusses microplastics research, calling for more investigation into specific health-relevant questions such as the dose-response relationships for microplastic exposure and the role of plastic additives versus particles themselves in causing harm.

Body Systems

Letters to the editor More on microplastics I found the article on microplastics (C&EN, Feb. 4, page 28) to be well written and informative, albeit scary. It seems to me that the topic cries out for more study, particularly on a few subjects that were just touched on in the piece; in particular, (1) can microplastics be detected in human or animal blood, and if so, can they pass the blood-brain barrier? and (2) vegetarians are mentioned as not being included in the small group of eight that were the subjects of a paper (undergoing peer review) for gut contamination by plastic, but it seems they too might not be exempt from this contamination in view of the leaching of plastic from packaging and the use of animal and human sewerage on crop-producing fields. So there may be no easy dietary safe choice to pick in avoiding this pestilence! Kosher

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