Protecting the human digestive system from micro(nano)plastic contamination

In this blog we hear from Irish Research Council DOROTHY MSCA COFUND awardee Dr Xiaohui Lin on her research project Protection of the human digestive system from micro(nano)plastic contamination, that will investigate how microplastics behave in different types of food, and what factors influence their uptake by the human digestive system and how different cooking methods affect microplastics, and which methods can be used to minimize their uptake.

Dr Xiaohui Lin is tackling a major environmental public health challenge though her research as a DOROTHY MSCA COFUND fellow, oral intake of micro and nano plastic contamination. Xiaohui will conduct her research with her two mentors Professor Aoife Gowen (University College Dublin, Ireland) and Professor Tom Van de Wiele (Ghent University, Belgium). The UCD Spectral Imaging Research Group and the Ghent University Centre for Microbial Ecology and Technology provide the cutting-edge imaging technology and the dynamic human gut model to facilitate this project. She will also join her secondment organization in Bantry Marine Research Station to work with Dr Julie Maguire.

Micro(nano)plastic (MNP) pollution is a growing concern with far-reaching implications for human health. These tiny particles of plastic (microplastics have a particle size of ≤5 mm, while nano plastics are typically considered to have a particle size of ≤1 μm) resulting from the degradation of larger plastic debris, have infiltrated our environment, including water sources, food, and the air we breathe. The pervasive presence of MNPs raises significant concerns about human exposure and potential health impacts. In the intestine, MNPs can cause damage and inflammation, entering the bloodstream, disseminating to other tissues, and persisting for prolonged periods. While existing research has delved into the health effects of MNP exposure, there remains a critical knowledge gap regarding how these particles interact with food during digestion and cooking processes. Addressing this gap is crucial for developing strategies to protect human health. Therefore, this project aims to protect human digestive system from the contamination of MNPs by identifying food ingredients and cooking methods that can reduce MNP input. The research will contribute to our understanding of how to offset environmental pollution in order to tackle a growing public health concern.

Xiaohui recently presented her project to the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering – Ghent University, where she is currently based during her outgoing phase of the fellowship. In August 2024, she will present her research at the International Conference on Microplastics, Nanoplastics and Human Health – UCD School of Biosystems & Food Engineering, where she will give an oral presentation and one-day workshop hands-on training in utilizing the cutting-edge optical phototermal infrared spectroscopy (O-PTIR) instrument for microplastic analysis.

You can follow Xiaohui on LinkedIn @Xiaohui_Lin and read more about her research on Xiaohui Lin Profile University College Dublin (ucd.ie).