Commentary: Tissue accumulation of microplastics in mice and biomarker responses suggest widespread health risks of exposure

Abstract

Citation:Tang BL (2017) Commentary: Tissue accumulation of microplastics in mice and biomarker responses suggest widespread health risks of exposure.

Stressor Exposures Determine Risk: So, Why Do Fellow Scientists Continue To Focus on Superficial Microplastics Risk?

“…2,11,12 Nevertheless, the great majority of studies are stating the highest concentrations typically found are in the range of less than 1 to 10s of particles per meter squared (i.e., 1000 L). 2,3,7,8,13,14 These concentrations are several orders of magnitude lower than virtually all laboratory studies and organisms feeding on this sized range will find orders of magnitude more plankton available for ingesting. Also, many of the studies measure concentrations based on mass (e.g., mg/L) or surface area (number/km 2 ), and these units add large uncertainty to actual organism exposures to these diverse particles.…”

“…As an environmental toxicologist and risk assessor, I knew low microplastic exposure concentrations dictated there could be no risk. Thankfully, others are now beginning to join this chorus. − …”

“…Numerous authors and organizations have called for standardized methods for collecting, quantifying, and characterizing microplastics. ,, A plethora of methods exist for each of these three critical components of environmental assessments, each with their own strengths and limitations, but no one is sufficient. High numbers of false positive and false negatives have been identified, depending on the methods used, which makes it impossible to compare microplastic studies that may be overestimating or under-estimating exposures. ,, Nevertheless, the great majority of studies are stating the highest concentrations typically found are in the range of less than 1 to 10s of particles per meter squared (i.e., 1000 L). ,,,,, These concentrations are several orders of magnitude lower than virtually all laboratory studies and organisms feeding on this sized range will find orders of magnitude more plankton available for ingesting. Also, many of the studies measure concentrations based on mass (e.g., mg/L) or surface area (number/km 2 ), and these units add large uncertainty to actual organism exposures to these diverse particles …”

A multifaceted assessment of the effects of polyethylene microplastics on juvenile gilthead seabreams (Sparus aurata)

“…Specifically, the studies performed thus far suggest that, after MP exposure, a collective increase in various metabolites occurs rather discrete changes to a few individual metabolites. This could suggest a general disturbance of cellular function rather than specific effects due to the interaction of the MPs with a distinct cellular process, as discussed by some authors (Mattsson et al, 2015;Tang, 2017). Indeed, Tang (2017) proposed that metabolic alterations may have limited specific relevance and support more the notion of broad inflammatory responses or alterations to nutrient uptake and assimilation.…”

“…This could suggest a general disturbance of cellular function rather than specific effects due to the interaction of the MPs with a distinct cellular process, as discussed by some authors (Mattsson et al, 2015;Tang, 2017). Indeed, Tang (2017) proposed that metabolic alterations may have limited specific relevance and support more the notion of broad inflammatory responses or alterations to nutrient uptake and assimilation. Changes observed in the brain metabolite profile could also possibly arise from broad effects related to nutrition.…”