Can Microplastics Be Absorbed Through Our Skin? New Research Gives a Clue

The study provides the first experimental proof that substances included in microplastic additives can seep into perspiration on humans and then enter the circulation through the skin.

Numerous chemicals that were formerly used as plasticizers and flame retardants have already been outlawed because of evidence of their harmful effects on the liver and nervous system, their ability to cause cancer, and their potential to harm reproductive health. However, older gadgets, furniture, carpets, and construction materials still contain toxic toxins in the environment. Although the whole extent of microplastics' impact is unknown, there is growing worry about their potential to expose people to hazardous compounds. In a study that was released the previous year, the research team showed that compounds were absorbed by human sweat from microplastics. According to the most recent research, such substances can also enter the body through sweat and pass through the skin's barrier.

Instead of using laboratory animals or removed human tissues in their research, the scientists employed cutting-edge 3D human skin models. Over the course of a day, the models were exposed to two typical types of microplastics that contained polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a chemical class that is frequently used to flame retard plastics.

The findings, which were published in Environment International, indicated that the skin may absorb up to 8% of the chemicals exposed, with more hydrated or "sweatier" skin absorbing larger concentrations of the chemicals. The study offers the first experimental proof of how this mechanism affects the body's levels of hazardous substances.

My question is, what are the possible long-term effects of these ingested substances, and how long do they remain in the bloodstream?

Reference: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2024.108635

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Can Microplastics Be Absorbed Through Our Skin? New Research Gives a Clue