Discover if microplastics are actually harming our health

Microplastics' health impacts lack evidence due to no human trials and complex analysis challenges.

: Microplastics are found throughout the human body, yet their health impacts remain unproven due to the absence of human trials. A team of researchers, including Baoshan Xing from UMass Amherst, has identified best practices for analyzing microplastics in biological samples. However, challenges persist due to variations in biological materials and assumptions of particle shape. Advances in machine learning may expedite analysis, potentially allowing accurate detection and quantification in the near future.

Researchers have identified the presence of microplastics in various parts of the human body including blood and organs, but there is no definitive evidence linking these plastics to health risks due to the absence of human trials. Baoshan Xing, an environmental and soil chemistry professor at UMass Amherst, highlights the difficulty in analyzing microplastics found in biological materials like apples and human tissues, and the lack of standard practices for their analysis in biological samples.

Techniques commonly used for identifying microplastics, such as in water analysis, are not directly applicable to complex biological samples. Xing's team argues for improved protocols that consider the physical and chemical variations in human tissues, such as shape and surface characteristics, which could affect the travel and effect of microplastics in the human body.

Moreover, the assumption that most microplastics are spherical has been questioned, as this impacts how they are analyzed and understood. Researchers also contend with the possibility of toxic substances managing to lodge in specific body niches. Xing describes this issue as a significant challenge imparing further analysis as they await conclusive ways to better understand microplastics' potential impacts on health.

While currently no standard methods exist for quantifying microplastics in human bodies, advancements in machine learning could reduce the time and cost required for these analyses. Xing is optimistic that more accurate methods for detecting microplastics within biological samples are on the horizon, emphasizing the significance of these developments for public health future research initiatives.

Sources: Gizmodo, Nature Reviews Bioengineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst

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