MNLPs are tiny plastic particles- micro- (5 mm - 1 μm) and nanoplastics (<1 μm).
The usual sources of MNLPs are broken plastic, resin pellets, microbeads, etc.
The consequences of consumption of MNLPs are severe. Their consumption can:
→ Harm marine life
→ Detrimental to human health
→ Can lead to endocrine diseases, reproductive problems, autoimmune diseases, etc.
The Autonomous University of Barcelona and its team carried out a research study that involved the use of teabags. [3]
Packaging products contain plastic (high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyesters (such as polyethylene terephthalate, PET), and polystyrene (PS)) which can release MNLPs. [1]
It was observed that after 24 hours of exposure time, there was absorption of teabags made of polypropylene (PP).
Recent studies reveal various routinely used food packaging contain MNLPs amongst which teabags are most commonly used.
The present Research Study utilized teabags with different types of chemical constitutions:
Tea bags made of:
(1) cellulose and tea that are sold commercially,
(2) teabags made of nylon-6 (NY6) that are empty (as a model of polyamide), and
(3) teabags made of polypropylene (PP) that are empty.
Methods used to detect micro- and nanoplastics:
Washing with MilliQ water followed by ultracentrifugation and pellets sterilized by 90% ethanol followed by drying and weighing. (Extraction process) [2]
Detection procedure:
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) were the methods which were utilized for physical, chemical, and other detections.
We have managed to innovatively characterize these pollutants with a set of cutting-edge techniques, which is a very important tool to advance research on their possible impacts on human health.Alba Garcia, UAB Researcher
Effects on colon cancer cells:
Caco-2, HT29 and HT29-MTX cell lines (colon cancer cells) were used for harmful analyzing effects. It was observed that after 24 hours of exposure time, there was absorption of teabags made of polypropylene (PP) into one of the colon cancer cell lines. [3]
In conclusion, the aforementioned discoveries may have a variety of effects on human health. As a result, MNPLs' biological interactions are greatly influenced by their polymer composition, which results in a variety of targeting and effects on cells, tissues, and organs. These variations may lead to distinct immune responses, toxicity profiles, accumulation patterns, and long-term health consequences like carcinogenicity and genotoxicity. This study clarifies these connections, which are essential for evaluating the health and environmental hazards connected to ingesting MNPL in the real world.
References:
Cella, C., La Spina, R., Mehn, D., Fumagalli, F., Ceccone, G., Valsesia, A., & Gilliland, D. "Detecting Micro- and Nanoplastics Released from Food Packaging: Challenges and Analytical Strategies." Polymers 14, no. 6 (2022): 1238. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14061238.
Gooya Banaei, Alba García-Rodríguez, Alireza Tavakolpournegari, Juan Martín-Pérez, Aliro Villacorta, Ricard Marcos, and Alba Hernández. "The Release of Polylactic Acid Nanoplastics (PLA-NPLs) from Commercial Teabags: Obtention, Characterization, and Hazard Effects of True-to-Life PLA-NPLs." Journal of Hazardous Materials 458 (2023): 131899. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131899.
"Environmental Fate and Impacts of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Ecosystems." Accessed January 20, 2025. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653524026377?via%3Dihub.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Sanika Dongre/MSM)