Khaberni - Specialist scientists have warned that microplastic particles, invisible to the naked eye and prevalent in plastic water bottles and many food packages, may cause direct and serious harm to human health, including causing severe damage to pancreatic cells that may lead to their death.
Prior studies have linked microplastic particles, which range in size from a part of one thousandth of a millimeter to five millimeters, to a range of health problems such as hormonal disturbances, diabetes, stroke, and various types of cancer. However, most of these studies have yet to prove a direct causal relationship.
According to a report published by the British newspaper Independent and reviewed by Alarabiya.net, a new study provides strong evidence that polyethylene terephthalate (PET) particles, the main component of plastic water bottles, have direct toxic effects on the pancreas.
Polyethylene terephthalate is one of the most widely used types of plastic in the world, first developed in 1941, and is widely used in food packaging and medical products, in addition to the manufacture of polyester textiles and films.
Researchers from Poland and Spain conducted a laboratory study using a pig model, due to the significant physiological similarity between pigs and humans in terms of pancreatic functions and metabolic processes. The researchers concluded that micro particles of polyethylene terephthalate have direct toxic effects on pancreatic cells, which may increase the risk of diabetes and obesity.
During the experiment, scientists exposed the pancreas of pigs to various concentrations of these microplastic particles, observing changes in fat accumulation, cellular toxicity levels, and the general metabolic function of the organ.
According to the study, the animals were treated with low or high doses of microplastic particles for four weeks, with the low dose estimated at about 0.1 grams per day, while the high dose was one gram per day.
The results showed worrying evidence of extensive cell death within the pancreas, along with severe disturbances in its vital functions. It was also found that these particles directly affect the proteins responsible for the essential functions of the pancreas.
The researchers noted that the effects were dose-dependent, as the low dose changed the abundance of seven proteins, while the high dose changed the abundance of 17 proteins. Additionally, an abnormal accumulation of fat droplets within the pancreas was observed, a condition linked to impaired insulin secretion and glucose metabolism disorders.
Furthermore, the study suggested that polyethylene terephthalate particles could stimulate inflammation of the pancreas at the cellular level, indicating a new pathway through which microplastic particles may contribute to serious metabolic disorders.
The researchers called for more studies to understand how these particles accumulate in food chains, urging policymakers and regulatory bodies to reconsider the growing health risks associated with environmental pollution by microplastic particles.
