Microplastics can alter gut microbiome, cause intestinal inflammation: FAO

Subject: Environment

Section: Pollution

Context:

Microplastics and nanoplastics considerably impact human and animal gut microbiomes as well as the environment, noted a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Details:

FAO report: The Impact of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Human Health.
Though the effects of its exposure to other plastic chemicals in the gut microbiome are still unexplored, instances of alteration in the intestinal structure and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract have been observed.
Exposure to plastic has led to intestinal inflammation and gut dysbiosis — changes in the gut microbiome and microbiota.
The findings stood true for aquatic species and rodents as well.

Impact of Microplastics and Nanoplastics:

When plastic spreads in the environment, they undergo ageing, weathering and deterioration. Such changes cause mechanical abrasion, breakage, fragmentation and photo-oxidation, which involves chemical release or adsorption.
- Plastics eventually break into different sizes and shapes and undergo changes during interactions with microorganisms and other substances in their surroundings.
- Plastics of hydrophobic nature, for instance, can adsorb hydrophobic chemicals or persistent organic pollutants from the environment (for example, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane).
Microplastics (0.1 to 5 000 μm) and nano plastics (0.001 to 0.1 μm) are known to affect larger soil microorganisms and penetrate the entire food web.
Microplastics found in water bottles and food items such as sugar, honey, sea salt, tea and others have eventually deposited in human lung tissue, placenta, stool, blood and meconium.
Physical abrasion of microplastic and its accumulation in the gut can lead to satiety in the organism and even reduce food consumption. It may eventually lead to weight loss and metabolic changes.