Health What is the risk of microplastics in our environment?

Information on health risks of microplastics for humans

In recent years, scientific research has discovered, among other things, plastic particles in drinking water and food. And recently, researchers have also detected microplastics in humans for the first time. There are also health risks?

Microplastic detected in human stool

The Austrian Federal Environment Agency and the Medical University of Vienna have recently discovered in a study for the first time microplastics in the human chair - in all of the eight international participants. In a recent release, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) now summarizes its findings on possible health risks of microplastics for humans.

Microplastics have not only been discovered in food and drinking water, but also in humans. Is this a health risk? (Image: Hyrma / fotolia.com)

Microplastic in food

According to the information provided, the BfR has no reliable data on the chemical composition, particle size and content of microplastic particles in food.

Due to the lack of reliable data, a health risk assessment for the consumption of microplastic particles contaminated foods is currently limited.

At the request of the BfR, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) developed a comprehensive scientific opinion many years ago on the "presence of microplastic particles and nanoplastic particles in food, especially in marine animals".

Accordingly, there is the possibility of an oral uptake of microplastics of a certain size, which so far lack of analytical methods and valid studies, the whereabouts and the possible degradation in the gastrointestinal tract are not adequately studied.

According to EFSA, available studies show that absorption in the gut seems to be very low (results from rodent studies).

Only microparticles smaller than 150 microns (μm, 1 micron equivalent to 0.001 mm) can thus overcome the intestinal barrier and reach only microparticles smaller than 1.5 microns deeper located organs.

There are currently no results from human studies.

Plastic particles can be absorbed in the intestinal wall

First own examinations of the BfR on cultures of human intestinal epithelial cells as well as in animal experiments showed that plastic particles up to a diameter of approx. 4 μm can be absorbed in the cell culture of epithelial cells of the intestinal wall.

However, it was shown in animal experiments that despite the administration of very large quantities of plastic particles in the size of 1-10 .mu.m, they were found only sporadically in the investigated intestinal epithelial cells.

The investigations carried out at BfR using different model particles for the oral uptake of microparticles revealed no evidence of damage to the intestinal tissue.

On the question of whether micro plastic particles can be deposited in the body, the Institute has no knowledge.

Micro plastic particles in cosmetic products

From the BfR's point of view, according to the current state of knowledge, a risk of death from dermal or unintentional oral ingestion via scrubs or shower gels is unlikely, since the micro-plastic particles occurring there are larger than 1 μm.

Given the predictable use of the products, this particle size is unlikely to be absorbed by the healthy and intact skin.

Even accidental ingestion of cosmetic products, it can be assumed that uptake via the gastrointestinal tract would only be possible to a small extent and only with particles of a few micrometers in size, and that the major part of the particles would be excreted via the stool.

According to BfR, it is unlikely that health-relevant amounts of ethylene from polyethylene will be released from micro-plastic particles during passage through the gastrointestinal tract.

Transport vehicle for other undesirable substances

It is described that substances can accumulate on microplastic particles. These substances bind according to their chemical-physical surface properties and can interact with the microplastic particles.

Due to the predominantly nonpolar, lipophilic (= fat-loving) properties of microplastic particles, substances such as e.g. polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Whether these substances actually contribute to the exposure of humans via the uptake by loaded microplastic particles has not yet been investigated.

A model EFSA study shows that the daily intake of PCBs and PAHs via the consumption of contaminated microplastic particles in mussels can increase by only 0.006% for PCBs and less than 0.004% for PAHs compared to other receiving pathways.

In the extreme case it was assumed that a human consumes 225 g of mussels per day containing 7 μg of microplastic particles per kg of clams (equivalent to 900 particles), which in turn contain high levels of PCB and PAH and of which the PCBs or PAHs are complete pass into the people.

It is described that biofilms of bacteria can develop on particles, e.g. Floating in the water. Whether and to what extent microplastic particles can act as a vehicle for bacteria or viruses, which have an impact on the safety of food or the health of humans, has not been investigated.

Avoidance of plastic intake by humans

There are many sources of microplastic particle entries into the environment and the food chain. General recommendations for protective measures are currently not formulated.

There is a great need for research in relation to the question of whether or under what conditions microplastic particles can have a potential hazard potential.

Entry paths for microplastic particles into the environment and the food chain need to be further explored and solutions to avoid entry must be sought. (Ad)