Everyday exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics is a reality, even if it seems hard to believe. A study from the Medical University of Vienna indicates that the weekly intake can reach up to five grams, roughly the weight of a credit card.
Plastic does not break down quickly. It fragments into tiny pieces that can enter the food chain and eventually the human body.
These particles reach the gut through food and drink. Nanoplastics, in particular, pose a health concern for individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, or hepatitis.
The findings are summarized in the study titled To waste or not to waste: Questioning the health risks of microplastics and nanoplastics ingestion and carcinogenicity, published in Exposure & Health. It reviews the latest data on the topic.
According to Lukas Kenner, a member of the MedUni team and a researcher at Vienna General Hospital, a healthy gut can tolerate this risk, while those with chronic diseases or heightened stress may be more vulnerable to the harmful effects of these plastics.
Micro and nanoparticulate matter in the digestive system
Studies examining how micro and nanoplastics interact with the digestive system indicate that ingestion can trigger inflammatory and immune responses and may even contribute to cancer development.
Nanoplastics are defined as particles smaller than 0.001 millimeters, while microplastics range from 0.001 millimeters to five millimeters. Many of these can be seen with the naked eye.
The study notes that nanoplastics may be linked to biochemical processes involved in transforming normal cells into cancer cells.
These particles enter the food chain not only through food and drink but also via packaging waste.
Research indicates that drinking 1.5 to two liters of water daily from plastic bottles can introduce substantial plastic particles, although this figure has decreased over time as bottle materials have shifted toward taps water in many places.
It is noted that humans have released large amounts of plastic into air, soil, and water. This debris is so widespread that it may eventually leave a recognizable fossil trace for the distant future.
Beyond environmental concerns, the study highlights largely unexplored consequences for human health.
More detailed research is needed to understand how these plastics affect the body, how they might transform cells, and whether they can trigger carcinogenic processes, especially given the rapid growth of nondegradable plastics production.