New Delhi, Dec 4 (NationPress) A study conducted by the Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali (INST), an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has uncovered that nanoplastics originating from single-use PET bottles can directly disrupt crucial biological systems essential for human health. This alarming revelation comes amidst growing concerns about nanoplastics that have been increasingly detected in food and water, yet their specific effects on human health have remained largely unclear.

While previous research has primarily investigated the environmental pollution caused by plastics or their detrimental effects on host tissues, there has been little focus on their direct consequences on beneficial gut microbes that are critical to human health.

Led by Prashant Sharma and Sakshi Dagariya from the Chemical Biology Unit at INST, the researchers have provided the first compelling evidence of significant health implications.

The findings reveal that prolonged exposure to nanoplastics diminishes bacterial growth, colonization, and protective functions while heightening stress responses and sensitivity to antibiotics.

According to the researchers, "These findings indicate that nanoplastics from common plastics are biologically active particles that can disrupt gut health, blood stability, and cellular functionality," as stated in their paper published in the journal Nanoscale Advances.

The team synthesized nanoplastics from PET bottles in a laboratory setting and evaluated their effects across three vital biological models.

A beneficial gut bacterium, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, was utilized to investigate how nanoplastics influence the microbiome.

At elevated concentrations, nanoplastics were discovered to compromise red blood cell membranes, leading to premature cell destruction.

Moreover, the researchers identified that extended exposure resulted in DNA damage, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammatory signaling, in addition to alterations in energy and nutrient metabolism.

The researchers concluded that "nanoparticles cause DNA damage, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses in human epithelial cells during prolonged exposure, posing previously unrecognized risks to human health." Beyond implications for human health, these findings also have relevance for agriculture, nutrition, and ecological studies where microbial balance and plastic pollution intersect.