Take-out containers as nano- and microplastics reservoirs: Diet-driven gut dysbiosis in university students
Abstract
Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are presenting a significant challenge to global ecosystems and human health, however, human evidence on NPs-specific effects and their impacts on gut microbiota remains absent. This study investigated the exposure characteristics of MPs/NPs and their associations with gut microbiota dysbiosis in a high-risk population-university students. Fecal samples from 24 university students were analyzed via Raman spectroscopy and micro-FTIR for comprehensive MPs/NPs characterization. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed taxonomic shifts linked to MPs/NPs exposure. Questionnaires were used to assess potential exposure pathways to MPs in humans. Through integrated Raman spectroscopy, micro-FTIR, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we characterized MPs/NPs in fecal samples (n = 24) while correlating exposure levels with microbial shifts. Microplastics were universally detected in fecal samples across all study participants, with concentrations ranging from 170.86 to 269.33 particles/100g, predominantly polyethylene terephthalate (PET, 83.42 %) and fibers (85.95 %). NPs (< 0.1 μm) constituted only 0.14 %. Frequent consumers of plastic-packaged foods (≥ 3/day) exhibited significantly higher total MPs, PET, polyethylene (PE), and fibers versus infrequent users. The analysis found a moderate correlation between participants' drinking water intake and fecal Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) concentrations (r=0.434, P=0.034). Gut microbiota analysis revealed that despite…
Read the paper
Related studies
- Green Chemistry: A Framework for a Sustainable Future
- Nano/micro-plastic, an invisible threat getting into the brain
- Emerging contaminants antibiotic resistance genes and microplastics in the environment: Introduction to 21 review articles published in CREST during 2018–2022
- Water Resources and Sustainable Development
- Nano- and microplastics in the workplace
- Water Enclosure and World-Literature: New Perspectives on Hydro-Power and World-Ecology
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.