Abstract
There are increasingly attentions on the pollution from microplastics, especially the impact on human health. This work focuses on one hand the effect of digestion system on the surface microstructures of microplastics from the most popular sources such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride. On the other hand, how these microplastic affect probiotics in digestion system was also investigated to evaluate their toxicity on health. All the samples were treated by in vitro simulating digestion consisting of three phases: oral, gastric and intestinal. There were no physical differences observed by both Scanning Electronic Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy, and no significant chemical changes detected by both Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy after digestion treatment. The effect of these microplastics on tested strains were investigated by in vitro culture method and results showed that polystyrene microplastics could inhibit the growth of the Lactobacillus significantly. The results indicated that the digestion system could not decompose microplastics, even on the surfaces, since plastics are inert due to their low chemical reactivity, but the microplastics might lead to imbalance of intestinal microbiota.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abolghasemi-Fakhri L, Ghanbarzadeh B, Dehghannya J, Abbasi F, Adun P (2019) Styrene monomer migration from polystyrene based food packaging nanocomposite: effect of clay and ZnO nanoparticles. Food Chem Toxicol 129:77–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2019.04.019
Allen S, Allen D, Simonneau A, Binet S, Phoenix VR, Galop D, Roux GL, Jiménez PD (2019) Atmospheric transport and deposition of microplastics in a remote mountain catchment. Nat Geosci 12:339–344. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-019-0335-5
Au SY, Bruce TF, Bridges WC, Klaine SJ (2015) Responses of Hyalella azteca to acute and chronic microplastic exposures. Environ Toxicol Chem 34:2564–2572. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.3093
Ba OM, Marmey P, Anselme K, Duncan AC, Ponche A (2016) Surface composition XPS analysis of a plasma treated polystyrene: Evolution over long storage periods. Colloids Surf B 145:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2016.04.026
Brodkorb A, Egger L, Alminger M, Alvito P, Assuncao R, Ballance S, Bohn T, Bourlieu-Lacanal C, Boutrou R, Carriere F, Clemente A, Corredig M, Dupont D, Dufour C, Edwards C, Golding M, Karakaya S, Kirkhus B, Le Feunteun S, Lesmes U, Macierzanka A, Mackie AR, Martins C, Marze S, McClements DJ, Menard O, Minekus M, Portmann R, Santos CN, Souchon I, Singh RP, Vegarud GE, Wickham MSJ, Weitschies W, Recio I (2019) INFOGEST static in vitro simulation of gastrointestinal food digestion. Nat Protoc 14:991–1014. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41596-018-0119-1
Cauwenberghe LV, Janssen CR (2014) Microplastics in bivalves cultured for human consumption. Environ Pollut 193:65–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2014.06.010
Chen J, Zhang L, Geng Q, Jing B, Yu X (2018) Determination of total polar compounds in frying oils by pe-film-based FTIR and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Eur J Lipid Sci Technol. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejlt.201800250
Dinan TG, Stilling RM, Stanton C, Cryan JF (2015) Collective unconscious: how gut microbes shape human behavior. J Psychiatr Res 63:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2015.02.021
Donegan M, Milosavljevic V, Dowling DP (2013) Activation of PET using an RF atmospheric plasma system. Plasma Chem Plasma Process 33:941–957. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11090-013-9474-4
Druart C, Alligier M, Salazar N, Neyrinck AM, Delzenne NM (2014) Modulation of the gut microbiota by nutrients with prebiotic and probiotic properties. Adv Nutr 5:624S-633S. https://doi.org/10.3945/an.114.005835
Duan Y, Xiong D, Wang Y, Zhang Z, Li H, Dong H, Zhang J (2021) Toxicological effects of microplastics in Litopenaeus vannamei as indicated by an integrated microbiome, proteomic and metabolomic approach. Sci Total Environ 761:143311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143311
EFSA (2016) Presence of microplastics and nanoplastics in food, with particular focus on seafood. EFSA J 14:4501. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2016.4501
Fitaroni LB, Cacuro TA, Costa CAR, Lanzoni EM, Galante D, Araujo JR, Homem MGP, Waldman WR, Cruz SA (2021) Polymeric nanowrinkles: surface modification of polypropylene films in the VUV energy range. J Mater Sci 56:9532–9543. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-021-05879-1
Fontana GD, Mossotti R, Montarsolo A (2020) Assessment of microplastics release from polyester fabrics: the impact of different washing conditions. Environ Pollut 264:113960. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.113960
Fragao J, Bessa F, Otero V, Barbosa A, Sobral P, Waluda CM, Guimaro HR, Xavier JC (2021) Microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in Antarctica: using penguins as biological samplers. Sci Total Environ 788:147698. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147698
Gelbke HP, Banton M, Block C, Dawkins G, Eisert R, Leibold E, Pemberton M, Puijk IM, Sakoda A, Yasukawa A (2019) Risk assessment for migration of styrene oligomers into food from polystyrene food containers. Food Chem Toxicol 124:151–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2018.11.017
Geyer R, Jambeck JR, Law KL (2017) Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. Sci Adv 3:e1700782. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1700782
Goderska K (2019) The antioxidant and prebiotic properties of lactobionic acid. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 103:3737–3751. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-019-09754-7
Hanvey JS, Lewis PJ, Lavers JL, Crosbie ND, Pozode K, Clarke BO (2017) A review of analytical techniques for quantifying microplastics in sediments. Anal Methods 9:1369–1383. https://doi.org/10.1039/c6ay02707e
Heddagaard FE, Moller P (2020) Hazard assessment of small-size plastic particles: is the conceptual framework of particle toxicology useful? Food Chem Toxicol 136:111106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2019.111106
Hernandez LM, Xu EG, Larsson HCE, Tahara R, Maisuria VB, Tufenkji N (2019) Plastic teabags release billions of microparticles and nanoparticles into tea. Environ Sci Technol 53:12300–12310. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b02540
Huang JN, Wen B, Zhu JG, Zhang YS, Gao JZ, Chen ZZ (2020a) Exposure to microplastics impairs digestive performance, stimulates immune response and induces microbiota dysbiosis in the gut of juvenile guppy (Poecilia reticulata). Sci Total Environ 733:138929. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138929
Huang Y, Qing X, Wang W, Han G, Wang J (2020b) Mini-review on current studies of airborne microplastics: analytical methods, occurrence, sources, fate and potential risk to human beings. Trends Analyt Chem 125:115821. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2020.115821
Human Microbiome Project C (2012) Structure, function and diversity of the healthy human microbiome. Nature 486:207–214. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature11234
Jiang P, Yuan GH, Jiang BR, Zhang JY, Wang YQ, Lv HJ, Zhang Z, Wu JL, Wu Q, Li L (2021) Effects of microplastics (MPs) and tributyltin (TBT) alone and in combination on bile acids and gut microbiota crosstalk in mice. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 220:112345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112345
Kanhai DK, Gardfeldt K, Krumpen T, Thompson RC, O’Connor I (2020) Microplastics in sea ice and seawater beneath ice floes from the Arctic Ocean. Sci Rep 10:5004. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61948-6
Karami A (2017) Gaps in aquatic toxicological studies of microplastics. Chemosphere 184:841–848. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.06.048
Kennedy PJ, Murphy AB, Cryan JF, Ross PR, Dinan TG, Stanton C (2016) Microbiome in brain function and mental health. Trends Food Sci Technol 57:289–301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2016.05.001
Li B, Ding Y, Cheng X, Sheng D, Xu Z, Rong Q, Wu Y, Zhao H, Ji X, Zhang Y (2020) Polyethylene microplastics affect the distribution of gut microbiota and inflammation development in mice. Chemosphere 244:125492. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125492
Liebezeit G, Liebezeit E (2013) Non-pollen particulates in honey and sugar. Food Addit Contam A 30:2136–2140. https://doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2013.843025
Liu L, Fokkink R, Koelmans AA (2016) Sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to polystyrene nanoplastic. Environ Toxicol Chem 35:1650–1655. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.3311
Lu L, Wan Z, Luo T, Fu Z, Jin Y (2018) Polystyrene microplastics induce gut microbiota dysbiosis and hepatic lipid metabolism disorder in mice. Sci Total Environ 631–632:449–458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.051
Matsuki T, Watanabe K, Fujimoto J, Kado Y, Takada T, Matsumoto K, Tanaka R (2004) Quantitative PCR with 16S rRNA-gene-targeted species-specific primers for analysis of human intestinal bifidobacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol 70:167–173. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.70.1.167-173.2004
Minekus M, Alminger M, Alvito P, Ballance S, Bohn T, Bourlieu C, Carriere F, Boutrou R, Corredig M, Dupont D, Dufour C, Egger L, Golding M, Karakaya S, Kirkhus B, Le Feunteun S, Lesmes U, Macierzanka A, Mackie A, Marze S, McClements DJ, Menard O, Recio I, Santos CN, Singh RP, Vegarud GE, Wickham MS, Weitschies W, Brodkorb A (2014) A standardised static in vitro digestion method suitable for food - an international consensus. Food Funct 5:1113–1124. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3fo60702j
Mokrushina AS, Simonenkoa TL, Simonenkoa NP, Gorobtsova PY, Kadyrovb NC, Simonenkoa EP, Sevastyanova VG, Kuznetsova NT (2021) Chemoresistive gas-sensing properties of highly dispersed Nb2O5 obtained by programmable precipitation. J Alloys Compd 868:159090. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2021.159090
Ossmann BE, Sarau G, Holtmannspotter H, Pischetsrieder M, Christiansen SH, Dicke W (2018) Small-sized microplastics and pigmented particles in bottled mineral water. Water Res 141:307–316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.05.027
Pirsaheb M, Hossini H, Makhdoumi P (2020) Review of microplastic occurrence and toxicological effects in marine environment: experimental evidence of inflammation. Process Saf Environ Prot 142:1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2020.05.050
Rowenczyk L, Dazzi A, Deniset-Besseau A, Beltran V, Goudounèche D, Wong-Wah-Chung P, Boyron O, George M, Fabre P, Cm R, Mingotaud AF, Halle AT (2020) Microstructure characterization of oceanic polyethylene debris. Environ Sci Technol 54:4102–4109. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b07061
Reed S, Clark M, Thompson R, Hughes KA (2018) Microplastics in marine sediments near Rothera Research Station, Antarctica. Mar Pollut Bull 133:460–463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.05.068
Schymanski D, Goldbeck C, Humpf HU, Furst P (2018) Analysis of microplastics in water by micro-Raman spectroscopy: release of plastic particles from different packaging into mineral water. Water Res 129:154–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2017.11.011
Sghir A, Gramet G, Suau A, Rochet V, Pochart P, Dore J (2000) Quantification of bacterial groups within human fecal flora by oligonucleotide probe hybridization. Appl Environ Microbiol 66:2263–2266. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.66.5.2263-2266.2000
Silva ACP, Jorgetto AO, Wondracek MHP, Saeki MJ, Pedrosa VA, Colmenares YN, Mastelaro VR, Sutili FK, Martines MAU, Pasta PC, Castro GR (2021) A global pollutant (PVC-polyvinyl chloride) applied as heavy metal binder from aqueous samples: green principles from synthesis to application. Environ Technol 11:1–44. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2021.1934560
Smith M, Love DC, Rochman HM, Neff RA (2018) Microplastics in seafood and the implications for human health. Curr Environ Health Rep 5:375–386. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-018-0206-z
Song Y, Qiu R, Hu J, Li X, Zhang X, Chen Y, Wu WM, He D (2020) Biodegradation and disintegration of expanded polystyrene by land snails Achatina fulica. Sci Total Environ 746:141289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141289
Stock V, Bohmert L, Lisicki E, Block R, Cara-Carmona J, Pack LK, Selb R, Lichtenstein D, Voss L, Henderson CJ, Zabinsky E, Sieg H, Braeuning A, Lampen A (2019) Uptake and effects of orally ingested polystyrene microplastic particles in vitro and in vivo. Arch Toxicol 93:1817–1833. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-019-02478-7
Stock V, Fahrenson C, Thuenemann A, Donmez MH, Voss L, Bohmert L, Braeuning A, Lampen A, Sieg H (2020) Impact of artificial digestion on the sizes and shapes of microplastic particles. Food Chem Toxicol 135:111010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2019.111010
Stock V, Laurisch C, Franke J, Donmez MH, Voss L, Bohmert L, Braeuning A, Sieg H (2021) Uptake and cellular effects of PE, PP, PET and PVC microplastic particles. Toxicol in Vitro 70:105021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tiv.2020.105021
Sun H, Chen N, Yang X, Xia Y, Wu D (2021) Effects induced by polyethylene microplastics oral exposure on colon mucin release, inflammation, gut microflora composition and metabolism in mice. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 220:112340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112340
Thompson RC, Olsen Y, Mitchell RP, Davis A, Rowland SJ, John AW, McGonigle D, Russell AE (2004) Lost at sea: where is all the plastic? Science 304:838. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1094559
Wang K, Li J, Zhao L, Mu X, Wang C, Wang M, Xue X, Qi S, Wu L (2021a) Gut microbiota protects honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) against polystyrene microplastics exposure risks. J Hazard Mater 402:123828. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123828
Wang L, Wang Y, Xu M, Ma J, Zhang S, Liu S, Wang K, Tian H, Cui J (2021b) Enhanced hepatic cytotoxicity of chemically transformed polystyrene microplastics by simulated gastric fluid. J Hazard Mater 410:124536. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124536
Xu K, Zhang Y, Huang Y, Wang J (2021) Toxicological effects of microplastics and phenanthrene to zebrafish (Danio rerio). Sci Total Environ 757:143730. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143730
Yang D, Shi H, Li L, Li J, Jabeen K, Kolandhasamy P (2015) Microplastic pollution in table salts from China. Environ Sci Technol 49:13622–13627. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b03163
Zhang D, Liu X, Huang W, Li J, Wang C, Zhang D, Zhang C (2020) Microplastic pollution in deep-sea sediments and organisms of the Western Pacific Ocean. Environ Pollut 259:113948. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.113948
Zhang B, Yang X, Liu L, Chen L, Teng J, Zhu X, Zhao J, Wang Q (2021a) Spatial and seasonal variations in biofilm formation on microplastics in coastal waters. Sci Total Environ 770:145303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145303
Zhang J, Wang L, Trasande L, Kannan K (2021b) Occurrence of polyethylene terephthalate and polycarbonate microplastics in infant and adult feces. Environ Sci Technol Lett 9:12–13. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00559
Zhang T, Sun Y, Song K, Du W, Huang W, Gu Z, Feng Z (2021c) Microplastics in different tissues of wild crabs at three important fishing grounds in China. Chemosphere 271:129479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129479
Zheng K, Fan Y, Zhu Z, Chen G, Tang C, Peng X (2019) Occurrence and species-specific distribution of plastic debris in wild freshwater fish from the pearl river catchment, China. Environ Toxicol Chem 38:1504–1513. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.4437
Zhu D, Chen Q-L, An X-L, Yang X-R, Christie P, Ke X, Wu L-H, Zhu Y-G (2018) Exposure of soil collembolans to microplastics perturbs their gut microbiota and alters their isotopic composition. Soil Biol Biochem 116:302–310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.10.027
Acknowledgements
The work was supported by the International Cooperation Project of Guangzhou Development Zone (2018GH18), and 111 Project (B17018), and National Undergraduate Training Program for Innovation and Entrepreneurship of South China University of China. We would like to acknowledge support from the State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering (202107) and engineer Dr Xin Wang from Bruker (Beijing) Scientific Technology Co. Ltd.
Funding
Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province (Grant No. 22178124).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Chen, H., Chen, H., Nan, S. et al. Investigation of Microplastics in Digestion System: Effect on Surface Microstructures and Probiotics. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 109, 882–892 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-022-03571-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-022-03571-x