Microplastics may affect bone health

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Brazilian researchers analyzed over 60 scientific articles on the subject and found that the plastic materials negatively affect bone tissue.

A micrograph taken at 400x magnification shows the interior of an MG-63 bone cell. Small polystyrene microplastic spheres appear inside the cytoplasm and are highlighted in blue. The cell nucleus is shown in red. Image credit: Mariana Cassani de Oliveira/LEMON/FCM-UNICAMP

The production and use of over 400 million tons of plastic each year has polluted beaches, rivers, and even the deepest parts of the ocean, reaching depths of up to 11,000 meters. In addition to visible environmental impacts, plastic contributes to climate change. It is estimated that plastic production generates 1.8 billion tons of greenhouse gases per year. Scientific evidence also suggests that using plastic materials in everyday life has impacted human health.

A large number of plastic particles detach from curtains, furniture, clothing, and other plastic objects. These particles remain suspended in the air, dissolve in drinking water, adhere to food, and can be inhaled, ingested, or come into contact with people’s skin. Consequently, scientists have found microplastics in blood, the brain, the placenta, breast milk, and human bones.

A study linked to a research project supported by FAPESP and published in the journal Osteoporosis International reviewed 62 scientific articles and found that microplastics have also been harming bone health in various ways. One notable example is their ability to impair the function of bone marrow stem cells by promoting the formation of osteoclasts, which are multinucleated cells that degrade tissue through a process known as bone resorption.

“The potential impact of microplastics on bones is the subject of scientific studies and isn’t negligible. For example, in vitro studies with bone tissue cells have shown that microplastics impair cell viability, accelerate cell aging, and alter cell differentiation, in addition to promoting inflammation,” said Rodrigo Bueno de Oliveira, coordinator of the Laboratory for Mineral and Bone Studies in Nephrology (LEMON) at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the State University of Campinas (FCM-UNICAMP), in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Oliveira reported that studies on animals have found that accelerated osteoclast senescence can compromise bone microstructure, causing dysplasia. This can lead to bone weakening, deformities, and potentially pathological fractures. “In this study, the adverse effects observed culminated, worryingly, in the interruption of the animals’ skeletal growth,” said the researcher.

Oliveira further explained that, although the effects of these particles on bone mechanics are not yet fully understood, the data suggest that the presence of the material in the bloodstream, for example, may compromise bone health. “Most strikingly, a significant body of research suggests that microplastics can reach deep into bone tissue, such as bone marrow, and potentially cause disturbances in its metabolism,” he said.

A connection
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Not surprisingly, Oliveira’s team is starting a research project to verify in practice what seems perfectly possible in theory: the relationship between exposure to microplastics and the worsening of metabolic bone diseases. Using animal models, the scientists will study the impact of microplastics on the strength of rodent femurs.

According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), the prevalence of osteoporosis-related fractures is increasing worldwide due to the aging population. It is estimated that there will be a 32% increase in osteoporosis-related fractures by 2050.

“Improving quality of life and reducing the risk of bone complications, such as fractures, is a priority in healthcare. We already know that practices such as physical exercise, a balanced diet, and pharmacological treatments contribute significantly to this. However, although osteometabolic diseases are relatively well understood, there’s a gap in our knowledge regarding the influence of microplastics on the development of these diseases. Therefore, one of our goals is to generate evidence suggesting that microplastics could be a potential controllable environmental cause to explain, for example, the increase in the projected number of bone fractures,” Oliveira said.

Citation
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The paper Effects of microplastics on the bones: a comprehensive review was published in Osteoporosis International journal

The article Microplastics may affect bone health written by Maria Fernanda Ziegler from Agência FAPESP, was published in the Agência FAPESP’s website.

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