Latest news with #AmyParkhurst
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Microplastics in food and drinks damage our livers and affect metabolism, scientists say
'Waiter, there are fragments of synthetic polymers in my soup' does not have quite the ring to it as the old joke about the unappetising fly. Research presented at an American Society for Nutrition conference in Orlando, Florida, that ended this week suggests that food and drink are much more likely to harbour harmful plastics than toxic bugs. Microscopic plastic particles found in food and beverages may affect glucose metabolism and harm organs such as the liver,' according to scientists at the University of California, Davis, who warned that despite 'ubiquitous exposure' to microplastics and nanoplastics, the health implications have yet not been 'fully elucidated'. 'Our observations that oral ingestion of polystyrene nanoplastics contributes to glucose intolerance and signs of liver injury, confirm and extend what has been recently reported on the effects of nanoplastics in animal models,' the team warned, after comparing mice exposed to plastics to others that were not exposed. Increasing levels of plastic pollution have led to plastic breaking down into tiny shards called microplastics and nanoplastics that are eaten by animals and pass into the human food chain. Photo: Shutterstock 'With the growing concern around micro- and nanoplastic exposure, we wanted to evaluate the impact of this exposure on health,' said Amy Parkhurst of the University of California Davis.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Health
- NDTV
Study Shows How Plastic Particles In Food, Beverages Can Harm Your Liver
New Delhi: Microscopic plastic particles found in food and beverages may affect glucose metabolism and harm organs such as the liver, according to a new animal study. The findings raise concerns about potential health risks in people who consume microplastics (less than 5 millimetre) and nanoplastics (less than 100 nanometre), which can enter the food chain and end up in seafood and other foods people eat. Previous estimates show that a person may ingest around 40,000 to 50,000 microplastic particles a year through food and beverages, with some estimating exposure to be as high as 10 million particles per year. "Our observations that oral ingestion of polystyrene nanoplastics contributes to glucose intolerance and signs of liver injury, confirm and extend what has been recently reported on the effects of nanoplastics in animal models," said Amy Parkhurst, a doctoral candidate at the University of California, Davis, US. For the study, the researchers focused on exposure via oral consumption to mimic nanoparticles found in food and drink. They gave 12-week-old male mice a standard rodent diet with a daily oral dose of polystyrene nanoparticles. Polystyrene is a widely used plastic commonly found in food packaging and products. The researchers chose a daily nanoparticle dose of 60 mg per kilogram of body weight, based on human exposure levels and earlier mouse studies that showed health effects at similar amounts. "We can't control for all the plastics the mice are exposed to," said Parkhurst. "However, our study design allowed us to see dose-correlated changes since the nanoplastics-dosed group would have a higher exposure." Compared to the control group receiving no polystyrene, the mice consuming nanoplastics exhibited systemic glucose intolerance and elevated alanine aminotransferase, which indicates liver injury. In the mice consuming polystyrene, the researchers also observed an increase in gut permeability and elevated levels of endotoxin, which contribute to liver dysfunction. "Our findings warrant further studies to help inform policy around micro and nanoplastics," said Parkhurst. "Robust scientific evidence plays a key role in shaping monitoring efforts and guiding regulations." The findings will be presented at the ongoing NUTRITION 2025, the flagship annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition in Orlando.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Microplastics in your food are contributing to these two health issues: study
You know microplastics are showing up in your take out containers and your junk food. But alarming fresh research indicates they're present in pretty much anything you consume — and the effects of these tiny particles are from far teeny. 3 New research raises red flags about what all that invisible plastic might be doing to the human body. molenira – Advertisement A new study in mice suggests that microplastics found in food and drink could be interfering with blood sugar levels and damaging the liver. Researchers at the University of California, Davis, found that animals who consumed polystyrene nanoplastics — the kind of plastic used in food packaging — developed glucose intolerance and signs of liver injury, two serious health issues that may have long-term consequences. Advertisement The findings — which were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition on Sunday — raise red flags about what all that invisible plastic might be doing to the human body. 'With the growing concern around micro- and nanoplastic exposure, we wanted to evaluate the impact of this exposure on health,' lead author Amy Parkhurst, a doctoral candidate at UC Davis, said in a press release. Parkhurst and her team fed mice a standard diet spiked with a daily dose of polystyrene nanoparticles, mimicking the way people are exposed through food and drinks. 3 The study suggests that microplastics found in food and drink could be interfering with blood sugar levels and damaging the liver. – Advertisement The dose was chosen to reflect real-world human exposures — which could range from tens of thousands to millions of particles per year, according to previous estimates. Compared to their plastic-free peers, the mice that ate nanoplastics had trouble regulating blood sugar — a condition known as glucose intolerance, which can be a warning sign for diabetes. The plastic-dosed mice also had higher levels of a liver enzyme called ALT — a common marker for liver injury. 3 On top of that, the study found that the plastics made the gut more 'leaky,' allowing harmful substances to enter the bloodstream and potentially stress the liver even more. Crystal light – Advertisement On top of that, the study found that the plastics made the gut more 'leaky,' allowing harmful substances to enter the bloodstream and potentially stress the liver even more. While the findings come from mice, not humans, they add to a growing pile of research raising questions about how microplastics — which are now found everywhere from bottled water to seafood — might be affecting our health. 'We can't control for all the plastics the mice are exposed to,' Parkhurst noted, 'However, our study design allowed us to see dose-correlated changes since the nanoplastics-dosed group would have a higher exposure.' Parkhurst emphasized that more research is needed to understand how these particles affect people and whether they pose similar risks in the long term. Still, the message is clear: what's too small to see might not be too small to hurt.
