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A new study suggests that nanoplastics, which are smaller than microplastics, could interfere with the earliest stages of development in chicken embryos. The researchers observed that these nanoplastics could cause tissue defects and heart defects in the embryos, which are more serious and extensive than what has been previously reported. The study also found that nanoplastics seemed to get stuck on neural crest cells, preventing them from migrating to the areas where they would normally form important tissues and organs, such as the heart, arteries, facial structures, and nervous system. The researchers believe that the way these particles appear to latch on to neural crest cells could be worrisome even in scenarios of low-level exposures, and the defects became more widespread as nanoplastic concentrations increased.
Previous studies have tried to investigate the potential health risks of polystyrene microplastics, finding biochemical signs of potentially toxic effects as they accumulate in the livers, kidneys, and guts of laboratory mice. However, the possible effects of microplastics on the early development of cells and tissues that go on to form organs and bodies are largely unknown. The researchers believe that more research is warranted, given the omnipresent threat microplastics pose in the environment. Studies like this one are only just beginning to sketch out the potential health impacts of ‘plastic dust’ on animals, as manufacturers churn out more of the stuff.
These results are a matter of concern given the large and growing burden of nanoplastics in the environment. Nearly 360 million metric tonnes of plastic was produced in 2018, a number expected to double by 2025. Our dependency on cheaply made plastic goods and synthetic materials is polluting our oceans and air with microscopic shards of plastic polymers making their way into our bodies and out the other side. Studies have found microplastics lodged deep in human lungs, circulating in our blood, and entering the placenta – the vital organ that shields unborn babies from pathogens and other potentially hazardous materials lurking in the mother’s blood.
The research has been published in Environment International.