Microplastics now causing problems in most life forms - many studies

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Summary of this page by Perplexity AI - March 28, 2024

The article from VitaminDWiki, dated March 28, 2024, discusses the pervasive issue of microplastics and their impact on various life forms, including humans. It highlights several studies that have explored the toxic effects of nanoplastics (NPs) exposure, particularly through the dysregulation of the brain-gut axis. The article emphasizes the lack of research focused on mitigating these effects.
One of the key points in the article is a study that investigated the potential role of vitamin D in counteracting the toxicity caused by nanoplastics. In this study, fish were fed diets with varying levels of vitamin D to determine its impact. The results showed that a diet high in vitamin D could reduce the accumulation of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) in the brains of zebrafish. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe that PS-NPs had accumulated in the zebrafish's brain and intestine, causing damage to the brain's blood-brain barrier basement membrane and vacuolization in intestinal goblet cells and mitochondria. The high concentration of vitamin D in the diet was found to mitigate these effects.
The article also references other studies and reviews that have been conducted on the medical implications of microplastics. These include a chart detailing studies of microplastics in humans from December 2020, a review from March 2024 on microplastics and nanoplastics in atheromas and cardiovascular events, and a note on the potential link between microplastics and autism risk during pregnancy, which could be reduced with the addition of vitamin D. Furthermore, it mentions a study from November 2023 that suggested microplastics might be a cause of Parkinson's disease, with nanoplastics linked to changes in brain proteins associated with the condition

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Fish ingesting microplastics have gut, reproduction, brain injury etc, problems – May 2024

Impact of microplastics and nanoplastics on fish health and reproduction
Aquaculture https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2024.741037 PDF is behind a paywall
lRaja Aadil Hussain Bhat a b, M. Junaid Sidiq c, Ilhan Altinok b d e

Highlights

• Naturally occurring MPs and NPs may not be toxic to fish*
• Virgin MPs and NPs are toxic to aquatic organisms
• Virgin MPs and NPs have an impact on fish health and reproductive potential*
• Intestinal dysbiosis is common after exposure to virgin MP
• MPs have a role in the transfer of pathogens and antibiotic-resistant genes

Microplastic (MP) contamination is a worldwide threat to aquatic organisms and human health. Aquatic environments are ideal and ultimate sinks for the MPs. They are negatively impacting the physical and physiological fitness of various fish species. Virgin MPs and nanoparticles (NPs) compromise immune, digestive, and reproductive systems, induce intestinal dysbiosis, and may have transgenerational effects. Even prolonged exposure to small ambient levels of MPs in aquatic environments has been found to be associated with such hazards. Moreover, plastisphere formation in aquatic habitats provides an excellent source and carrier for transporting contaminants, antimicrobial-resistant genes, and pathogens. Numerous studies utilize artificially produced virgin MPs and NPs containing toxic chemicals. When these plastics interact with water and organisms, they release harmful compounds, leading to the promulgation of toxic effects. However, macroplastics undergo chemical degradation in nature, producing micro- and nano-sized particles that appear to have varying degrees of adverse impact on aquatic organisms, due to their presence in substantial diluting environments. The work done so far suggests that evaluations of MP impact in aquatic habitats should be performed at a mass scale and in diverse fish species to get a clear picture of this hazard. This article reviews the most recent literature available on the influence of virgin MPs and NPs on fish welfare, with a particular focus on their health and reproductive functions.

Introduction
Plastic pollution, particularly in the form of MPs, has emerged as an urgent and significant global environmental concern (Li et al., 2021b; MacLeod et al., 2021; Williams and Rangel-Buitrago, 2022). Since the 1950s, the production of plastics has increased exponentially. Global plastic production reached a staggering 460 million metric tons (Mt) in 2019 and is projected to reach 1231 Mt. by 2060 (Forum, 2022). In 2018, China produced 107.7 Mt. of plastics, accounting for approximately 30% of global plastic production (Plastic Europe, 2019). It is estimated that approximately 11 million tons of plastic enter the oceans annually (UNEP, 2021). Plastic emission levels into aquatic habitats are predicted to range from 20 to 53 million tons annually by 2030, highlighting the alarming scale of this issue (Borrelle et al., 2020). Reports indicate that >170 trillion plastic particles are currently floating in the oceans, causing significant damage to livelihoods and ecosystem and this number is projected to triple in the next two decades (UNEP, 2021). The widespread adoption of plastic usage can be credited to its affordability, long-lasting quality, lightweight characteristics, and adaptability across diverse sectors such as food packaging, construction, automotive, electronics, sports, agriculture, healthcare, and furniture production (An et al., 2020; Europe Plastics, 2019; Osman et al., 2023).

Microplastics are smaller than 5 mm in diameter and pose notable ecological risks due to their widespread distribution throughout aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems (Lusher et al., 2017b). These MPs can be categorized as either primary (originally manufactured to be <5 mm) or secondary (resulting from the decomposition of larger plastic objects) (Kershaw and Rochman, 2015). The significant growth in plastic manufacturing has resulted in massive amounts of plastic waste, a substantial portion of which eventually breaks down into MPs (Sharma and Chatterjee, 2017). On the other hand, NPs are formed from the degradation of MPs and are characterized by colloidal behavior, with a size range of 1 to 1000 nm (Gigault et al., 2018). These microscopic plastic particles can contaminate water bodies, soil, and air, leading to ecological imbalances and potential consequences for human well-being (Basri et al., 2021).

Microplastics, which originate from terrestrial activities such as plastic production, tire wear, agriculture, and plastic litter, enter aquatic environments through routes such as atmospheric deposition, coastal interactions, and runoff. Comprehensive solutions are crucial to tackling the complexity of MP pollution in aquatic ecosystems (Gesamp, 2016; Klein et al., 2015). Microplastics are present in all habitats of the open ocean and enclosed seas, including beaches, water columns surface waters, and the deep seafloor (Lusher, 2015). Wind-induced vertical movement within the water column, plays a crucial role in determining the dispersion of MPs within marine environments (Kukulka et al., 2012). Once released, MPs can remain in the environment for prolonged periods, causing detrimental effects on wildlife, ecosystems, and potentially human health (MacLeod et al., 2021; Ritchie and Roser, 2018). Microplastics can be ingested by a variety of organisms, including plankton (Carbery et al., 2018; Gunaalan et al., 2023; Rakib et al., 2023), fish (Abbasi et al., 2018; Bhuyan, 2022; Collard et al., 2017; Gao et al., 2023; Renzi et al., 2019), bivalves (Abidli et al., 2023; Khanjani et al., 2023), birds (Bilal et al., 2023; Brookson et al., 2019; Lu et al., 2023; Navarro et al., 2023), and mammals (Liu et al., 2023; Zantis et al., 2021), resulting in numerous adverse effects such as reduced reproductive success, impaired growth, and disruption of physiological processes Fish may consume MPs through two main pathways: direct ingestion (primary ingestion), in which they unintentionally perceive the MPs as food and ingest them, or accidental consumption (Worm et al., 2017), or indirectly (secondary digestion) by consuming prey that has already consumed these particles (Watts et al., 2014). The latter process, known as trophic transfer, may result in the accumulation of MPs in predators occupying higher trophic levels (Farrell and Nelson, 2013; Provencher et al., 2019; Zhang et al., 2019). On the other hand, the amount of increased MP accumulation in predators at higher trophic levels is still unknown (Carbery et al., 2018; Miller et al., 2020). Furthermore, MPs contain additives from the manufacturing process that have a prominent capacity to absorb detrimental pollutants, such as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic substances, from the surrounding environment. The ingestion of MPs and subsequent accumulation of these contaminants within aquatic organisms has raised concern about the potential hazards and risks associated with MPs in marine ecosystems (Lusher et al., 2017a).

Wootton et al. (2021) demonstrated that 49% of the worldwide fish samples examined for MP consumption exhibited the presence of plastic particles (average of 3.5 pieces per fish), and the prevalence of plastic ingestion was higher in North American fish as compared to fish from other geographic regions. A comprehensive literature review conducted by Galafassi et al. (2021) emphasized the widespread and concerning problem of MP pollution in freshwater environments. The review documented instances of 199 species from 29 countries ingesting plastic, with over 60 research articles specifically dedicated to studying MP ingestion by wild freshwater fish. Interestingly, MPs have been found not only in the digestive tracts of fish but also in their gills, suggesting that the particles can translocate to different tissues within the organisms. Ingestion of MPs by fish poses a multifaceted threat to their health, including structural intestinal damage. It also introduces toxic substances that disrupt physiological processes (Montero et al., 2022). As a result, ingesting MPs introduces these toxicants into the fish's body, where they may cause extensive physiological disruptions such as endocrine disruption and oxidative stress. Furthermore, MPs are capable of accumulating in the digestive system, which may result in physical damage such as obstructions, inflammation, and hindrances in nutrient absorption. Thus, it is imperative to comprehensively examine the effects of MPs on fish health. Fig. 1 depicts the number of articles present in the public domain that explore the impact and presence of MPs in aquatic organisms. With escalating concerns about MP pollution and its potential effects on aquatic ecosystems, particularly fish populations, there is an urgent need for a consolidated and structured evaluation of the current state of knowledge in this area. This review article seeks to consolidate the current insights and knowledge available regarding the effects of MP on fish health. Moreover, we have provided detailed information about the role of MPs in the transfer of pathogens and antibiotic-resistant genes.

Section snippets
Methodology
A literature search was conducted using various databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, and ScienceDirect, employing different keywords such as: “fate of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment”, “microplastics and nanoplastics in water”, “microplastics and nanoplastics in aquaculture”, “effect of microplastics in fish”, impact of microplastic on fish and “effect of plastic in fish”. The articles related to our study were screened, and finally, 210 articles, including research…

Entry and fate of MPs in fish and water
When MP trash ends up in the ocean, it undergoes photo- and biodegradation as well as physical aging (Ter Halle et al., 2017), leading to micro- and nano-scale plastic pollution (Gigault et al., 2016). Due to the slowness of these degradation processes, the flow of MPs and NPs from terrestrial settings is assumed to be the primary cause of marine pollution (Cózar et al., 2014). Chemicals are frequently added to plastic during the manufacturing process in order to impart certain desirable…

Impact of MPs and NPs on fish welfare
There is compelling evidence that consumption of MPs and NPs can have adverse effects on fish health (Table 1, Fig. 4). The majority of the research to determine the impacts of artificially produced MPs on fish has been conducted under controlled laboratory settings. The fish species used in these experiments were obtained from diverse habitats, primarily from marine environments (Ding et al., 2018; Hao et al., 2023; Hasan et al., 2023; Li et al., 2021a; Lusher et al., 2013). On the other hand, …

Synergistic effects of MPs and pathogens in fish
Virgin MPs could increase disease susceptibility in fish by impairing their immune systems (Masud and Cable, 2023). A study was done to evaluate the effect of MPs on rainbow trout exposed to Yersinia ruckeri. This study revealed how the combined impact of virgin MPs triggered the severe clinical manifestations in fish infected with Y. ruckeri (Banihashemi et al., 2022). Furthermore, the study indicates that the toxic effects of foreign substances such as virgin MPs might increase the ability of …

Synergistic effects of temperature and MPs or NPs
The intricate relationship between elevated temperatures and exposure to virgin NPs in environmental contexts has garnered considerable attention. A combination of incremental temperature rise (28, 29, 30 °C) and exposure to virgin polystyrene NPs disrupted the circadian rhythm, induced brain injury, and led to notable alterations in the levels of 18 metabolites across various pathways in zebrafish (Sulukan et al., 2022).This result implies that a one-degree temperature increase can exacerbate…

Microplastics and antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) transfer
As previously mentioned, MPs are widely dispersed in marine environments and pose a variety of negative effects. In comparison to other natural materials, plastic debris poses a greater threat to the aquatic environment due to its longer physical half-life. This extended persistence makes plastics hazardous. Furthermore, since organic pollutants can adhere to plastic surfaces, plastic debris can serve as a carrier (Fig. 5) for many organic pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (…

Microplastics cause reproductive dysfunction in fish
The majority of aquatic organisms are found to be invariably affected by virgin MPs at some stage in their lives. Low trophic-level communities such as zooplankton, filter-feeding invertebrates and echinoderms, and fish larvae are found to have higher pathological and physiological sensitivities towards virgin MPs (do Sul and Costa, 2014). Virgin MPs have also gained importance for being one of the most potent anthropogenic factors that are reprotoxic to fish. It has been found that the…

Conclusion
Plastic, a remarkably versatile and utilitarian material, has become integral to modern daily life. However, excessive utilization and inadequate disposal practices result in the pervasive menace of MP pollution in aquatic ecosystems, spanning from the upper pelagic zones to the seafloor sediments. Commercially produced plastics often contain toxic materials that are incorporated during their manufacturing process. The degradation of plastics into MPs and NPs in aquatic environments, which…

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Chart of studies of microplastics in humans - 2020

Details further down this page

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Review of many microplastic medical studies - substack March 2024

Robert Malone

• Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events- March 2024 (see below)
• Raman Microspectroscopy Detection and Characterisation of Microplastics in Human Breastmilk - June 2022
• Impact of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Livestock Health: An Emerging Risk for Reproductive Efficiency - March 2023
• Exposure to microplastics and human reproductive outcomes: A systematic review - April 2024
• Isolation and identification of microplastics in infant formulas - A potential health risk for children - May 2024
• A Children's Health Perspective on Nano- and Microplastics - Jan 2022
• 266 studies of microplastic toxicity

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Health risk of human exposure to microplastics: a review - March 2024

Environmental Chemistry Letters https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-024-01727-1 References online Can be read in DeepDyve - free trial
Kuok Ho Daniel Tang, Ronghua Li, Zhi Li & Dun Wang

Microplastics are emerging contaminants that have been detected recently in most environmental and biological systems, yet their health risk for humans has not been clearly summarized. Here we review human health risk associated with exposure to microplastics with focus on methods of exposure assessment, hazard identification, dose–response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. Hazards include direct hazards, hazards from contaminants released by microplastics, and hazards from microplastic interactions with surrounding contaminants.
Microplastics

• trigger oxidative stress,
• disrupt metabolism,
• interfere with gut microflora and gastrointestinal functions,
• disrupt hepatic, cardiopulmonary and immune systems, and
• degrade reproductive health.

Some additives leached from microplastics such as phthalates are endocrine disruptors and thus impact reproductive health. The interaction of microplastics with other pollutants in the environment induces varied hazards following synergistic or antagonistic effects.

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Microplastics appear to impact human organs ($65 paywall) - March 2024

The possible impacts of nano and microplastics on human health: lessons from experimental models across multiple organs
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B https://doi.org/10.1080/10937404.2024.2330962 35 pages
Bernardo Lannes Monteiro Fontes,Lorena Cristina de Souza e Souza,Ana Paula Santos da Silva de Oliveira,Rodrigo Nunes da Fonseca,Marinaldo Pacifico Cavalcanti Neto & Cintia Rodrigues Pinheiro

The widespread production and use of plastics have resulted in accumulation of plastic debris in the environment, gradually breaking down into smaller particles over time. Nano-plastics (NPs) and microplastics (MPs), defined as particles smaller than 100 nanometers and 5 millimeters, respectively, raise concerns due to their ability to enter the human body through various pathways including ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact. Various investigators demonstrated that these particles may produce

• physical and chemical damage to human cells, tissues, and organs,
• disrupting cellular processes,
• triggering inflammation and oxidative stress, and
• impacting hormone and neurotransmitter balance.

In addition, micro- and nano-plastics (MNPLs) may carry toxic chemicals and pathogens, exacerbating adverse effects on human health. The magnitude and nature of these effects are not yet fully understood, requiring further research for a comprehensive risk assessment. Nevertheless, evidence available suggests that accumulation of these particles in the environment and potential human uptake are causes for concern. Urgent measures to reduce plastic pollution and limit human exposure to MNPLs are necessary to safeguard human health and the environment. In this review, current knowledge regarding the influence of MNPLs on human health is summarized, including toxicity mechanisms, exposure pathways, and health outcomes across multiple organs. The critical need for additional research is also emphasized to comprehensively assess potential risks posed by degradation of MNPLs on human health and inform strategies for addressing this emerging environmental health challenge. Finally, new research directions are proposed including evaluation of gene regulation associated with MNPLs exposure.

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Microplastics Linked to Heart Attack, Stroke and Death - Scientific American March 2024

Use incognito web page to access it without a subscription

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Plaques were removed: those having microplastics had a 4.5 X increased risk of stroke, heart attack, etc. - March 2024

Plastic Found Inside More Than 50% of Plaques From Clogged Arteries - Science Alert   the following is the text without hyperlinks

Now, a small study in Italy has found shards of microplastics in fatty deposits surgically removed from patients who had an operation to open up their clogged arteries – and reported their health outcomes nearly 3 years later.

Removing fatty plaques from narrowed arteries in a procedure called a carotid endarterectomy reduces the risk of future strokes.

The team behind this new study, led by Raffaele Marfella, a medical researcher at the University of Campania in Naples, wondered how the risk of stroke – as well as heart attacks and death – compared between patients who had microplastics in their plaques and those who did not.

Following 257 patients for 34 months, the researchers found nearly 60 percent of them had measurable amounts of polyethylene in plaques pulled from their fat-thickened arteries, and 12 percent also had polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in extracted fat deposits.

PVC comes in both rigid and flexible forms, and is used to make water pipes, plastic bottles, flooring, and packaging. Polyethylene is the most commonly produced plastic, used for plastic bags, films, and bottles, too.

In the study, patients with microplastics in their excised plaques were 4.5 times as likely to have experienced a stroke, non-fatal heart attack or died from any cause after 34 months than people who had no detectable microplastics in the plaques that surgeons had removed.

The amount of microplastics, and even smaller particles called nanoplastics, was measured using a technique called pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and their presence confirmed using another method, stable isotopes analysis, which can distinguish between the carbon of human tissues and that of plastics made from petrochemicals.

Microplastics were also visible under powerful microscopes: The researchers observed plastic fragments with jagged edges inside immune cells called macrophages, and within the fatty plaques. Examining the tissue samples, the team also found higher levels of inflammatory markers in patients with microplastics in their plaques.

Based on New England Journal of Medicine study published March 7, 2023
Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events
https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2309822 PDF is behind paywall

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Study was described in a 8 minute video March 2024 - 2 charts from PDF

Dr Brad Stanfield

Half as much Collagen (needed for mechanical stability) in plaques with microplastics

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Effects of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Agro-ecosystems and Human Health: A review - Jan 2024

Vingnanam Journal of Science Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Page/Article: 39-52 DOI: 10.4038/vingnanam.v18i2.4229
Rathiverni Rajaratnam. Nadeeka U JayawardanaEmail Nadeeka U Jayawardana Sri Lanka

Life on land and ocean is being threatened by microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs). Despite, the fate and effects of MPs and NPs in agro-ecosystems have not been clearly understood. However, recent studies showed that these polymers can be transported and accumulated in food crops, humans, and other organisms. The introduction of plastics into terrestrial land has led to the accumulation of MPs and NPs in food crops. The bioaccumulation has been found in stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits. Thus, causes a change in physicochemical activities in plants that leads to a decline in crop production. Further, MPs accumulation in human placenta and breast milk have been evidently proven in recent studies. MPs themselves are being potential vectors of pollutants, including anti-resistance genes, harmful microbes, heavy metals, and carcinogenic compounds. Alarmingly, these pollutants can be horizontally transferred to organisms along with the MPs and remain intact throughout the food chain. Poor solid waste management, inadequacy in plastic recycling, and application of MPs contaminated compost in agricultural practices are the major entry points of MPs into the agro-ecosystem. The collection of these results in this study will help both on-going and upcoming investigations on bioaccumulation of MPs and NPs in crops and their movement through the food chain.
 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki

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Detection of Various Microplastics in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery - July 2023

"Microplastic specimens were collected from 15 cardiac surgery patients, including 6 pericardia, 6 epicardial adipose tissues, 11 pericardial adipose tissues, 3 myocardia, 5 left atrial appendages, and 7 pairs of pre- and postoperative venous blood samples. "
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c07179 PDF behind paywall

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Microplastics and human health: Integrating pharmacokinetics - April 2023

https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2023.2195798 FREE PDF

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Microplastics as an Emerging Threat to the Global Environment and Human Health - July 2023

• "Exposure to microplastics can also pose potential health risks to humans, including respiratory and digestive problems, as well as disrupt sleep, contribute to obesity, and increase the risk of diabetes."

 PDF

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Microplastics and human health: Integrating pharmacokinetics - April 2023

https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2023.2195798 FREE PDF

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The Plastic Within: Microplastics Invading Human Organs and Bodily Fluids Systems - Nov 2023

Environments 2023, 10(11), 194; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10110194
by Christian Ebere Enyoh 1,*ORCID,Arti Devi 1,Hirofumi Kadono 1,Qingyue Wang 1ORCID andMominul Haque Rabin 1,2ORCID

• 1 Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama City 338-8570, Japan
• 2 Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh

Microplastics (MPs), small plastic particles resulting from the degradation of larger plastic items and from primary sources such as textiles, engineered plastic pellets, etc., have become a ubiquitous environmental pollutant. As their prevalence in the natural environment grows, concerns about their potential impacts on human health have escalated.
This review discusses current research findings on the presence of MPs in organs such as the

• liver,
• blood,
• heart,
• placenta,
• breast milk,
• sputum,
• semen,
• testis, and
• urine,

while also exploring plausible mechanisms of translocation. Furthermore, the review emphasizes the importance of understanding the potential toxicological effects of MPs on various physiological processes within these organs and their broader implications for human health. This review also examines the pathways through which MPs can enter and accumulate in human organs and bodily fluids, shedding light on the intricate routes of exposure and potential health implications. It is worth noting that the invasive medical procedures may permit direct access of MPs to the bloodstream and tissues, serving as a potential contamination source. However, it is evident that a comprehensive understanding of MPs’ invasion into human organs is vital for effective mitigation strategies and the preservation of both human health and the environment.
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Microplastics contamination in food products: Occurrence, analytical techniques and potential impacts on human health - Feb 2024

Current Research in Biotechnology Feb 2024 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crbiot.2024.100190
Suman Giri a, Gopal Lamichhane b c, Dipendra Khadka d e, Hari Prasad Devkota f g

Chemically, microplastics (MPs) are synthetic materials composed of plastic monomers and additives and vary in size from 0.1 to 5000 μm. Due to their chemical stability and the widespread use of plastics for various purposes, MP contamination of the environment has increased dramatically, leading to the contamination of daily consumer products as well. Although previous studies have reported the environmental impacts of MPs, only a few studies have highlighted the occurrence of MPs in food products and their possible effects on human health. Recent investigations have identified MP particles in drinking water and other beverages, seafood, plant products, salt, sugar, and honey, raising an alarm over the safety and quality of these food items. Ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact of such food and other consumer goods are the common routes through which MPs may enter the human body and can have several deleterious health impacts including oxidative stress, inflammation, immunotoxicity, increased risk of neoplasia, cellular metabolism impairment, neurotoxicity, gut microbiome dysbiosis, disruption of reproductive system among others. A collective approach employing source control, recycling, biodegradable plastics, strengthening legislation, and bioremediation could be a promising and sustainable solution to control the MP pollution. The key challenge appears to standarize detection methods along with reducing the MP contamination from the food products as well as from the environment. Therefore, this review focuses on the occurrence of MPs in several food products, current methods of analysis, potential health impacts, and strategies to mitigate the widespread MP pollution. It also adds novel findings, knowledge gaps, and recommendations that can guide future research in this field.
 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki

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The potential impacts of micro-and-nano plastics on various organ systems in humans - Lancet Jan 2024

eBioMedicine 2024;99: 104901 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104901
Nurshad Ali, Jenny Katsouli, Emma L. Marczylo, Timothy W. Gant, Stephanie Wright

Humans are exposed to micro-and-nano plastics (MNPs) through various routes, but the adverse health effects of MNPs on different organ systems are not yet fully understood. This review aims to provide an overview of the potential impacts of MNPs on various organ systems and identify knowledge gaps in current research.
The summarized results suggest that exposure to MNPs can lead to health effects through oxidative stress, inflammation, immune dysfunction, altered biochemical and energy metabolism, impaired cell proliferation, disrupted microbial metabolic pathways, abnormal organ development, and carcinogenicity.
There is limited human data on the health effects of MNPs, despite evidence from animal and cellular studies.
Most of the published research has focused on specific types of MNPs to assess their toxicity, while other types of plastic particles commonly found in the environment remain unstudied.
Future studies should investigate MNPs exposure by considering realistic concentrations, dose-dependent effects, individual susceptibility, and confounding factors.
 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki

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VitaminDWiki - Autism risk if toxins, heavy metals, microplastics, etc during pregnancy (unless add Vitamin D) – Feb 2024

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Microplastics might be a cause of Parkinson's - Nov 2023

Nanoplastics Linked to Changes in Brain Proteins Associated With Parkinson's, Study Finds Science Alert

Reporting on
Anionic nanoplastic contaminants promote Parkinson’s disease–associated α-synuclein aggregation Science Advances, FREE PDF

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Microplastics causing problems in Zebra fish - reduced by 40% if Vitamin D was added - Nov 2023

Vitamin D modulation of brain-gut-virome disorder caused by polystyrene nanoplastics exposure in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Microbiome . 2023 Nov 27;11(1):266. doi: 10.1186/s40168-023-01680-1.
Miaomiao Teng # 1, Yunxia Li # 1, Xiaoli Zhao 2, Jason C White 3, Lihui Zhao 1, Jiaqi Sun 4, Wentao Zhu 5, Fengchang Wu 6

Background: Many studies have investigated how nanoplastics (NPs) exposure mediates nerve and intestinal toxicity through a dysregulated brain-gut axis interaction, but there are few studies aimed at alleviating those effects. To determine whether and how vitamin D can impact that toxicity, fish were supplemented with a vitamin D-low diet and vitamin D-high diet.

Results: Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) accumulated in zebrafish brain and intestine, resulting in brain blood-brain barrier basement membrane damage and the vacuolization of intestinal goblet cells and mitochondria. A high concentration of vitamin D reduced the accumulation of PS-NPs in zebrafish brain tissues by 20% and intestinal tissues by 58.8% and 52.2%, respectively, and alleviated the pathological damage induced by PS-NPs. Adequate vitamin D significantly increased the content of serotonin (5-HT) and reduced the anxiety-like behavior of zebrafish caused by PS-NPs exposure. Virus metagenome showed that PS-NPs exposure affected the composition and abundance of zebrafish intestinal viruses. Differentially expressed viruses in the vitamin D-low and vitamin D-high group affected the secretion of brain neurotransmitters in zebrafish. Virus AF191073 was negatively correlated with neurotransmitter 5-HT, whereas KT319643 was positively correlated with malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the expression of cytochrome 1a1 (cyp1a1) and cytochrome 1b1 (cyp1b1) in the intestine. This suggests that AF191073 and KT319643 may be key viruses that mediate the vitamin D reduction in neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity induced by PS-NPs.

Conclusion: Vitamin D can alleviate neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity induced by PS-NPs exposure by directionally altering the gut virome. These findings highlight the potential of vitamin D to alleviate the brain-gut-virome disorder caused by PS-NPs exposure and suggest potential therapeutic strategies to reduce the risk of NPs toxicity in aquaculture, that is, adding adequate vitamin D to diet. Video Abstract.
 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki

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People are now INHALING a credit card's worth of plastics each week - Sept 2023

You breathe in a credit card’s worth of microplastic every week

• "We breathe in about 16 bits of microplastic every hour,"
• "Experts are starting to correlate microplastics with lung inflammation, shortness of breath and a higher risk of lung cancer. Research on rats suggests that when microplastics infiltrate lung cells, they can start to jumble up cell composition. This suggests that exposure to microplastics can cause lung injury in humans, too. "

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Study: people could be EATING a credit card's worth of microplastics per week- 2019

BoingBoing

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Microplastics may increase snow melt, and thus increase climate warming

Microplastics’ contribution to melting snow: A global crisis - Canadian Geographic April 2021

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8 Types of Plastic Discovered in People Who Had Heart Surgery - Sept 2023

The Defender

• "It’s believed that most plastic particles enter the human bloodstream after being ingested or inhaled via food, water, air and other sources."

 Download the Report from VitaminDWiki

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Microplastics in fruit and vegitables

• Micro- and nano-plastics in edible fruit and vegetables.
  The first diet risks assessment for the general population - Aug 2020 - (may not have been able to detect nanoplastics)  PDF
  • 
• Occurrence of Microplastics in Most Consumed Fruits and Vegetables from Turkey and Public Risk Assessment for Consumers Aug 2023 - (may not have been able to detect nanoplastics)  PDF
  • 

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100K-400K NANOplastic particles in a liter of bottled water - Jan 2024

AP News

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Microplastics perturb macrophages in the lab - May 2023

The internal dose makes the poison: higher internalization of polystyrene particles induce increased perturbation of macrophages
Front Immunol. 2023; 14: May doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1092743

From abstract

• " Using polystyrene as a model of micro and nanoplastics, with size ranging from under 100 nm to 6 microns, we have showed that although non-toxic, polystyrene nano and microbeads alter the normal functioning of macrophages in a size and dose-dependent manner. Alterations in the oxidative stress, lysosomal and mitochondrial functions were detected"

 Download the Report from VitaminDWiki

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94% of US water contains microplastics

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500 tons of RF chaff into the US annually, vs 878 tons of microplastics into the ocean from all washing machines US and Canada - Feb 2024

• The Military Routinely Disperses Aluminum-Coated Fiberglass Into the Air Mercola Feb 2024
  • ranging in lengths from 0.8 to 0.75 cm, so not microplastics at the time of release
• __https://ocean.org/blog/canadian-and-us-laundry-releases-trillions-of-plastic-microfibers-into-the-ocean/Laundry Releases Trillions of Plastic Microfibers Into the Ocean 2019

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Web- seabirds, humans, baby formula, breast cancer

• Microplastics are messing with the microbiomes of seabirds - MIT Review March 2023
• Microplastics as an emerging source of particulate air pollution: A critical review - Sept 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126245 lots of text available for free, $$ for entire PDF7
• Micro to nano plastics and its link to human health Oct 2022 doi: 10.14744/ijmb.2022.64326 FREE PDF
• Baby Poop Is Loaded With Microplastics Wired Sept 2021
  • "An alarming new study finds that infant feces contain 10 times more polyethylene terephthalate (aka polyester) than an adult’s."
  • "Different varieties of plastic can contain any of at least 10,000 different chemicals, a quarter of which are of concern for people,.."
  • "Of particular concern are a class of chemicals called endocrine-disrupting chemicals, or EDCs, which disrupt hormones and have been connected to reproductive, neurological, and metabolic problems, for instance, increased obesity. The infamous plastic ingredient bisphenol A, or BPA, is one such EDC that has been linked to various cancers. "
• Researchers 'Gobsmacked' by Number of Microplastic Particles in Baby Bottles Treehugger Oct 2020
  • High temperature water releases >1,000,000 microplastics into each bottle of formula
  • 55 million per liter of water at 203 degrees F
• How Plastics Can Affect Your Love Life Dr. Greger Dec 2018
• "Women working in automotive plastics and food canning are at five times the odds of breast cancer" **Free PDF online
• ocean water was thought to have 10 microplastics per cubic meter is found to have 8,300,000 per cubic meter Dec 2019
  • They finally got around to looking for the very very small particles
  • Every single one of the micro planktons (saps) contained microplastics
  • Microplastics are associated with brain damage and liver tumors in fish
  • Future research will determine microplastic effects further up the food chain - such as humans
• *Bans on Plastic Microbead - March 2020

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Rainfall in the Rocky Mountains contains microplastics - 2019

It's raining plastic in the Rockies Mother Nature Network

• "A study from scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey has found that 90 percent of rainwater samples from eight different locations along the Rockies contained plastics."

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Microplastics in Mosquitoes - Sept 2018

Microplastics are getting into mosquitoes and contaminating new food chains
In the lab they fed larva microplastics. "Plastics were retained as the mosquitoes went through different life stages"
Mosquitoes are eaten by birds and fish

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Zero Water countertop filter eliminates microplastic (nanoplastic too?)

Zerowater.com
many different sizes, all models include a small meter to test the amount of dissolved solids
Removes https://waterpurificationguide.com/water-filters-that-remove-microplastics/ 99.9% of microplastics ( unclear what sizes, see chart below) and 100% of Glyphosate, Fluoride, etc.
Amazon $29, 3,000 reviews - also WalMart, Home Depot, etc.
Great 2019 review compared many filters - taste, quality, ergonomics, etc found Zero to be best
Does remove beneficial Magnesium ions from the water (10 mg/liter)
   I take daily Magnesium supplements (400 mg/day), so I do not feel the need to remineralize the water
It is not practical in areas with hard water (there is a US harness map at their website)
   the filter stops at 18 grams of dissolved solids - will not last a month if there is hard water
Uses some of the chemicals and filters used in RO systems
You can recycle 2 filters for $10 - but you pay the postage

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Chart of the size of nano and microplastics removed by type of water filter - Jan 2024?

From: Water Filters That Remove Microplastics 10 types reviewed

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Visualizing the amount of microplastic we eat - Dec 2019

Reuters

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5+ VitaminDWiki pages with BPA in title

This list is automatically updated

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Your clothes can shed 700,000 microplastic fibers in a single wash - Feb 2023

Fast Company

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A Detailed Review Study on Potential Effects of Microplastics and Additives of Concern on Human Health - Feb 2020

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(4), 1212; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17041212
by Claudia Campanale *ORCID,Carmine MassarelliORCID,Ilaria Savino,Vito Locaputo andVito Felice Uricchio
Water Research Institute-Italian National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Bari, BA, Italy

The distribution and abundance of microplastics into the world are so extensive that many scientists use them as key indicators of the recent and contemporary period defining a new historical epoch: The Plasticene. However, the implications of microplastics are not yet thoroughly understood. There is considerable complexity involved to understand their impact due to different physical–chemical properties that make microplastics multifaceted stressors. If, on the one hand, microplastics carry toxic chemicals in the ecosystems, thus serving as vectors of transport, they are themselves, on the other hand, a cocktail of hazardous chemicals that are added voluntarily during their production as additives to increase polymer properties and prolong their life. To date, there is a considerable lack of knowledge on the major additives of concern that are used in the plastic industry, on their fate once microplastics dispose into the environment, and on their consequent effects on human health when associated with micro and nanoplastics. The present study emphasizes the most toxic and dangerous chemical substances that are contained in all plastic products to describe the effects and implications of these hazardous chemicals on human health, providing a detailed overview of studies that have investigated their abundance on microplastics. In the present work, we conducted a capillary review of the literature on micro and nanoplastic exposure pathways and their potential risk to human health to summarize current knowledge with the intention of better focus future research in this area and fill knowledge gaps.
 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki

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Microplastics Pollution as an Invisible Potential Threat to Food Safety and Security, Policy Challenges and the Way Forward - Dec 2020

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(24), 9591; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249591
by Sunusi Usman 1ORCID,Ahmad Faizal Abdull Razis 1,2,*ORCID,Khozirah Shaari 1,3,Mohammad Noor Azmai Amal 4,5ORCID,Mohd Zamri Saad 5,6ORCID,Nurulfiza Mat Isa 7,8,Muhammad Farhan Nazarudin 5ORCID,Syaizwan Zahmir Zulkifli 4ORCID,Jumria Sutra 4 andMusa Adamu Ibrahim 4

Technological advances, coupled with increasing demands by consumers, have led to a drastic increase in plastic production. After serving their purposes, these plastics reach our water bodies as their destination and become ingested by aquatic organisms. This ubiquitous phenomenon has exposed humans to microplastics mostly through the consumption of sea food. This has led the World Health Organization (WHO) to make an urgent call for the assessment of environmental pollution due to microplastics and its effect on human health. This review summarizes studies between 1999 and 2020 in relation to microplastics in aquatic ecosystems and human food products, their potential toxic effects as elicited in animal studies, and policies on their use and disposal. There is a paucity of information on the toxicity mechanisms of microplastics in animal studies, and despite their documented presence in food products, no policy has been in place so far, to monitor and regulates microplastics in commercial foods meant for human consumption. Although there are policies and regulations with respect to plastics, these are only in a few countries and in most instances are not fully implemented due to socioeconomic reasons, so they do not address the problem across the entire life cycle of plastics from production to disposal. More animal research to elucidate pathways and early biomarkers of microplastic toxicity that can easily be detected in humans is needed. This is to create awareness and influence policies that will address this neglected threat to food safety and security.
 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki

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VitaminDWiki – Interactions with Vitamin D contains

Interactions with Vitamin D has 122 items

Various drugs decrease Vitamin D
Drug interactions with Vitamin D - many studies - Feb 2024
Antidepressants reduce cellular Vitamin D, increasing fractures, CVD, etc. - Oct 2022
Medications that appear to lower Vitamin D – Aug 2021
24 drugs that typically reduce Vitamin D levels – Review Aug 2021
Proton pump inhibitors decrease Vitamin D and Magnesium – Dec 2018
Statins and Vitamin D - many studies
Glyphosate decreases Vitamin D getting to cells in many ways
Antibiotics and Vitamin D are associated with many of the same diseases
More colas lower vitamin D by 3 ng– July 2014
A few Drugs increase Vitamin D
Contraceptives,   Probiotics
Vitamin D can decrease/increase impact of drugs
be careful of Chemotheraphy and Vitamin D
Vitamin D generally improves the efficacy of drugs while reducing their adverse effects – Jan 2020
Some Drugs decrease Vitiamin D co-factors or limit vitamin D getting to cells
Drugs which create deficiencies in Vitamin D, Vitamin K, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, etc. – Sept 2017
Drugs Deplete Magnesium
Interaction of drugs with Vitamin D cofactors
Non-drugs also decrease vitamin D levels in blood and cells
Plastics, BPA, PCB and Vitamin D deficiency
Air pollution, toxins, heavy metals and smoking each result in lower Vitamin D levels – Nov 2018
Air Pollution reduces Vitamin D
Pesticides increase risk of Cancers, Alz, ALS, Asthma, ADHD, etc. (all related to low vitamin D) – Oct 2016
Smoking   Coffee
Cooked dried beans or peas