Due to plastic pollution, microplastics can now be found — well, nearly everywhere. Microplastics have been found on beaches and in water supplies, in our foods and in the deepest trenches of the ocean. Now, shares a study published in Environmental Science & Technology, high levels of microplastics have been discovered in the feces of people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). ScienceAlert discusses why we need to more deeply consider the impact of these small pieces of plastic on our health and on the planet, and what this discovery means for those with IBD.
What are Microplastics?
To begin the discussion, it’s first important to understand what microplastics are. Britannica describes microplastics as:
small pieces of plastic, less than 5 mm (0.2 inch) in length, that occur in the environment as a consequence of plastic pollution. Microplastics are present in a variety of products, from cosmetics to synthetic clothing to plastic bags and bottles.
To learn more about current studies associated with this realm, take a look at this helpful article published in Nature.
The Research: How Microplastics Potentially Affect IBD
Within this more current study, researchers sought to understand the health impact of microplastics, particularly in regards to digestive health. To begin, researchers collected fecal samples from 52 people with inflammatory bowel disease. After testing the samples, researchers discovered that those with IBD had 1.5x higher microplastics within their feces than healthy volunteers. More so, these patients also had smaller plastic flakes. Higher levels of these plastics were also associated with more severe IBD-related symptoms.
Ultimately, this research does not directly tell us that microplastics cause IBD or any symptoms. Many of us ingest these plastic particles every day, from drinking out of certain water bottles or just using the items around our houses. However, these findings do give us somewhere to look in the future. For example, does IBD prevent the body from adequately removing microplastics, or do these plastics prompt more intense inflammation? Does increasing plastic pollution increase IBD diagnoses?
Although we are currently unable to answer these questions, this study does suggest that further research is warranted.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Doctors are not exactly sure what causes inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a group of conditions including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC). However, many believe that IBD results from immune system malfunctions, such as the immune system mistakenly attacking the digestive tract. IBD causes digestive tract inflammation. Most often, symptoms manifest prior to age 30. IBD may be aggravated by environmental factors, living in a northern climate or industrialized area, having a poor diet, being stressed, or smoking cigarettes. Those of Caucasian and Ashkenazi Jewish descent are more likely to have IBD. Symptoms associated with IBD include:
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Diarrhea
- Bloody stool
- Appetite loss
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Unintended weight loss
- Blood clots
- Joint, skin, and eye inflammation
- Colon cancer
