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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastic exposure and the role of dietary patterns in school-aged children
ClearThe Presence of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Food and the Estimation of the Amount Consumed Depending on Dietary Patterns
This review examines how much micro- and nanoplastic contamination is present in different foods, from fruits and vegetables to seafood, meat, and dairy. For the first time, it compared microplastic intake across three common European diets and found that vegetarian diets actually resulted in the highest intake due to large amounts of fruits, vegetables, and legumes. The Mediterranean diet offered the best balance of health benefits and lower microplastic consumption.
Exploring the determinants of micro- and nanoplastics exposure among adults in Barcelona, Spain
Researchers quantified micro- and nanoplastic concentrations in stool, urine, tap water, and food samples from 50 healthy adults in Barcelona, Spain. They estimated a daily intake of 1.53 micrograms per kilogram of body weight, mainly from food, with polyamide, polyethylene, and polypropylene as the most frequently detected polymers. The study found that short-term diet better reflects microplastic exposure than long-term dietary habits, and that plastic additives in the body did not correlate with microplastic levels, ruling them out as proxy measurements.
Effects of a Plastic-Free Lifestyle on Urinary Bisphenol A Levels in School-Aged Children of Southern Italy: A Pilot Study
Italian children who ate school canteen meals served with plastic-free tableware for 6 months showed significant reductions in urinary bisphenol A levels compared to children who continued with normal meal habits, demonstrating that dietary plastic reduction lowers BPA exposure.
Relationship between microplastics in stool, diet, and inflammatory markers in healthy Japanese individuals
Researchers investigated the relationship between microplastics found in stool, dietary intake, and inflammatory markers in healthy Japanese individuals who typically consume a diet high in vegetables and seafood. The study explored how different types of microplastics in the intestinal tract may correlate with gastrointestinal inflammation and oxidative stress markers. The findings contribute to understanding how dietary habits influence microplastic exposure and its potential effects on gut health.
Occurrence of microplastics and disturbance of gut microbiota: a pilot study of preschool children in Xiamen, China
In a study of preschool children in Xiamen, China, researchers found microplastics in the stool of every child tested, with polycarbonate and PVC being the most common types. Children who frequently used plastic containers and ate takeout food had higher microplastic levels. The study also found that higher microplastic exposure was linked to changes in gut bacteria, including lower levels of beneficial microbes.
Association of faecal and urinary micro- and nanoplastics with markers of gut integrity and renal function
Researchers measured micro- and nanoplastics in stool and urine samples from 50 healthy adults in Barcelona and examined associations with markers of gut integrity and kidney function. Six polymer types were detected in roughly half of all samples, with polyamide being the most common. The study found that the presence of plastics in urine was associated with elevated albumin-creatinine ratios, a marker of kidney function, suggesting potential links between plastic exposure and renal health.
Take-out containers as nano- and microplastics reservoirs: Diet-driven gut dysbiosis in university students
Researchers analyzed stool samples from 24 university students and found microplastics in every sample, with students who frequently ate from plastic take-out containers having significantly higher levels. The most common plastic type was PET, likely from food packaging. Higher microplastic levels were associated with changes in gut bacteria composition, suggesting that everyday habits like eating take-out food could disrupt gut health through microplastic exposure.
Human Consumption of Microplastics
Researchers evaluated the American diet and estimated that the average person consumes between 39,000 and 52,000 microplastic particles per year through food alone, with the number rising significantly when inhalation and bottled water consumption are included. The study analyzed data from 26 prior studies covering common food categories. The findings highlight that microplastic exposure through everyday eating and drinking is widespread and substantial.
Microplastics in human feces: a pilot study exploring links with dietary habits
Researchers analyzed fecal samples from 18 people in Norway and found microplastics in 17 of them, with polypropylene being the most common polymer, but found no significant link between seafood consumption and microplastic levels. The results suggest that dietary habits alone do not determine exposure, and that microplastics may enter the body through many everyday sources beyond food.
Microplastics in human feces and their correlation with dietary behavior: A pilot study
This pilot study analyzed microplastics in human fecal samples and examined correlations with dietary habits, finding that seafood and packaged food consumption were associated with higher fecal microplastic counts. The results provide early evidence linking diet to human microplastic exposure levels.
Assessment of microplastics in human stool: A pilot study investigating the potential impact of diet-associated scenarios on oral microplastics exposure
In this pilot study, 15 volunteers followed different plastic-use and food consumption scenarios, and microplastics were detected in every stool sample collected, with polyethylene being the most common type. Using plastic packaging for food and eating highly processed foods were statistically linked to higher microplastic levels in stool, providing early evidence that dietary choices influence how many microplastics people ingest.
Micro(nano)plastics in human urine: A surprising contrast between Chongqing's urban and rural regions
Scientists detected micro- and nanoplastics in human urine samples from both urban and rural areas in China, with city dwellers showing higher levels and more types of plastic particles. The findings suggest that everyday habits like using plastic toys and personal care products contribute to the plastics found inside our bodies, and that people in urban environments face greater exposure.
Healthful Diet and Nutritional Food as a Preventive and Interventional Paradigm in the Face of Microplastic and Nanoplastic Crisis
This review examines dietary patterns and nutritional interventions as potential strategies to reduce health risks from microplastic and nanoplastic exposure, discussing how antioxidant-rich foods and specific nutrients may mitigate inflammation and oxidative stress triggered by MNP ingestion.
Plastics, diet and human health: Accurately assessing exposure in adults.
This research project is developing methods to accurately measure how much plastic people are exposed to through their diet, including microplastics from food packaging. The study examines whether reducing plastic food packaging can lower dietary plastic exposure and simultaneously improve diet quality. It matters because understanding true dietary exposure is a prerequisite for assessing health risks from microplastics in food.
Microplastics in stools and their influencing factors among young adults from three cities in China: A multicenter cross-sectional study
In a study of 78 college students across three Chinese cities, microplastics were detected in the stool of nearly every participant, with a median concentration of about 55 micrograms per gram. People who ate more takeout food had significantly higher microplastic levels in their stool. This is one of the first studies to measure the actual mass of microplastics passing through young adults' digestive systems, confirming that diet and food packaging directly influence human exposure.
Unveiling Small-Sized Plastic Particles Hidden behind Large-Sized Ones in Human Excretion and Their Potential Sources
Using advanced detection methods, researchers found that very small plastic particles (under 20 micrometers) in human feces and urine actually outnumber the larger particles that most studies measure. The most common plastics found were polyethylene, PVC, PET, and polypropylene, and their levels correlated with the use of plastic food containers and eating seafood -- suggesting these are key ways tiny plastics enter our bodies.
You are what you eat: Microplastics in the feces of young men living in Beijing
Researchers collected and analyzed fecal samples from 26 young men in Beijing to measure microplastic content. They found microplastics in all samples, with the amount correlating to the participants' consumption of packaged food and beverages, providing direct evidence that people are regularly ingesting microplastics through their diet.
Microplastic-associated gut microbial profile and antibiotic resistance in preschool children: a multicentre cross-sectional study in China
In a multicentre study of 335 preschool children across three Chinese cities, researchers detected eight types of microplastics in fecal samples at a median concentration of 212.1 micrograms per gram. The study found that microplastic exposure was associated with changes in gut microbiota composition and function, including metabolic pathways related to macronutrients and vitamins, as well as a relationship with antibiotic resistance gene abundance.
Food Contamination with Micro-plastics: Occurrences, Bioavailability,Human Vulnerability, and Prevention
The study reviews the occurrence, bioavailability, and potential health impacts of microplastics in food, noting that contamination has been detected in foodstuffs and beverages worldwide. Researchers highlight that current data on dietary microplastic exposure remains insufficient for comprehensive risk assessment, and call for standardized methodologies to better evaluate the threat to human health.
Emerging Health Risks Associated with the Intake of Microplastics Found in Milk and Dairy Products
Researchers assessed health risks from microplastics found in various milk and dairy products, including conventional, organic, and raw varieties. They found that yogurts showed consistently higher associations with certain polymer contaminations, and strong correlations existed between microplastic concentration and exposure-related risk parameters. The study suggests that routine consumption of contaminated dairy products represents an emerging dietary exposure pathway for microplastics.
Microplastics in fillets of Mediterranean seafood. A risk assessment study
Researchers analyzed fillets of several common Mediterranean seafood species for microplastic contamination and estimated the associated human dietary exposure. They detected microplastics in the edible tissue of all species tested, including sardines, sea bream, and mussels. The study provides risk estimates suggesting that regular seafood consumption represents a notable pathway for human microplastic ingestion.
Exposure of U.S. adults to microplastics from commonly-consumed proteins
Researchers measured microplastic contamination in 16 protein foods purchased in the US, including seafoods, meats, and plant-based products at different processing levels. Microplastics were detected across all protein categories, with processing level influencing contamination amounts.
Microplastics in food sold in France: a matter of containers ?
Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in food sold in France, comparing contamination levels across products packaged in different container types to determine whether packaging materials rather than environmental ubiquity represent the primary microplastic exposure route in the French food supply.
Human exposure to micro/nano-plastics through vegetables, fruits, and grains – A predictive modelling approach
Researchers developed a model to predict how much micro and nanoplastic people consume through vegetables, fruits, and grains. They estimated that Irish adults may ingest thousands of plastic particles daily through produce, with smaller nanoplastics being especially concerning because they can pass through the gut wall into the body. This study highlights that food crops are a significant and underappreciated route of human microplastic exposure.