Microplastics, tiny particles of plastic debris, are increasingly found in places once thought to be unreachable. Recent studies have shown that these particles are not only contaminating our oceans and ecosystems, but are also making their way into the human body. According to Science Daily, microplastics have been detected in human blood, brain tissue, and bones, raising concerns about their potential long-term effects on health.
As scientists delve deeper into these findings, the impact on skeletal health becomes more apparent, with early research suggesting that microplastics could contribute to conditions like osteoporosis. The full scope of their impact is only beginning to be understood.
The Plastic Invasion: Microplastics in Your Bones
We’ve all been exposed to plastic in some form—whether it’s a plastic bottle, a pair of synthetic clothes, or a couch cushion. But the real question is, just how much plastic are we actually absorbing? The answer might shock you.
Microplastics—tiny fragments of plastic smaller than 5mm—are now showing up in our blood, tissues, and bones. These microscopic particles have found a way into the very structure that keeps us standing tall.
A recent study published in Osteoporosis International highlights the disturbing trend: microplastics are impacting bone health. For instance, they are impairing bone marrow stem cells, crucial for bone regeneration, and encouraging the formation of osteoclasts—cells responsible for breaking down bone tissue. This process, known as bone resorption, can weaken bones over time, increasing the risk of fractures.
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 São Paulo, Brazil, explains,
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.
If that sounds worrying, it’s because it is. As plastic particles make their way deeper into our bones, they could contribute to conditions like osteoporosis—an illness that makes bones brittle and more prone to breaking.
Microplastics and Osteoporosis: A Dangerous Duo
The link between microplastics and osteoporosis might not seem obvious at first, but it’s one that’s getting stronger. With the global rise in plastic use and the increasing prevalence of osteoporosis-related fractures, scientists are investigating whether these two problems are connected.
As more people are diagnosed with osteoporosis, it’s crucial to understand the factors contributing to the condition. Could plastics be one of them?
Microplastics aren’t just in the environment—they’re infiltrating our bodies in unexpected ways.
In this study, the adverse effects observed culminated, worryingly, in the interruption of the animals’ skeletal growth – Says Oliveira.
As more is understood about their impact, researchers are discovering that these particles can reach deep into bone tissue, including bone marrow, and potentially disrupt its metabolism. This could have long-term effects on bone structure and health.
It’s not just the plastic bottles and bags we throw away. 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.
And the environmental impact doesn’t stop there. Plastic production generates 1.8 billion tons of greenhouse gases per year, contributing to climate change. But these plastics aren’t staying put—they’re making their way into our bodies. Microplastics have been found in human blood, brain tissue, the placenta, breast milk, and bones.
These unsettling discoveries are causing scientists to reassess how our exposure to plastics may be affecting our health in ways we never imagined.
What Can We Do? Tackling the Microplastic Problem
So, what’s the solution? Unfortunately, we can’t just wave a magic wand and get rid of the microplastics already inside our bodies. But the good news is that there’s still hope. Scientists like Oliveira are conducting further research to better understand the relationship between microplastics and bone health. Animal models are being used to study the effects on femurs, and the goal is to generate concrete evidence linking plastic exposure to bone diseases.
According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), the prevalence of osteoporosis-related fractures is set to increase dramatically in the coming decades. It is estimated that 32% more fractures related to osteoporosis will occur by 2050 due to an aging population. But now, researchers are questioning whether environmental factors—like the constant exposure to microplastics—could also play a role.
Rodrigo Oliveira emphasizes,
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.