SAEDNEWS: Microplastics from food packaging may disrupt gut health and raise the risk of bowel cancer and depression, Austrian researchers have found.
A groundbreaking study has detected microplastic particles in the human gut and linked them to changes in gut bacteria — a first of its kind using human stool samples.
Researchers at the University of Graz analyzed stool from five healthy volunteers and discovered that microplastics could alter bacterial behavior in ways previously associated with bowel cancer and depression.
While experts call the findings significant, they caution that more research is needed to fully understand how these tiny plastics might harm our health.
Microplastics are tiny plastic fragments, some as small as two micrometres, that enter our bodies through food, water, and even air as larger plastics break down.
Previous studies have already found microplastics in lungs, blood, breast milk, and placental tissue, and linked exposure to cancer, heart disease, dementia, and reduced sperm quality.
Lead author Christian Pacher-Deutsch, a microplastics researcher at the University of Graz, emphasized the importance of the findings given widespread exposure:
“Microplastics have been found in fish, salt, bottled water, and even tap water. The key takeaway is that microplastics do have an impact on our microbiome. While it’s too early to make definitive health claims, reducing exposure where possible is a wise precaution.”
In the study, scientists:
Grew gut microbiome cultures from stool samples.
Exposed them to five types of microplastics: polystyrene, polypropylene, low-density polyethylene, poly(methyl methacrylate), and polyethylene terephthalate.
The results? Samples treated with microplastics became more acidic, showing clear signs of altered microbial activity.
The most affected bacterial group was Bacillota, crucial for digestion and gut health. Some of the changes mirrored patterns previously seen in depression and bowel cancer. Researchers suggest that biofilm formation and chemical contamination on plastics could drive these shifts.
The findings will be presented at the United European Gastroenterology Congress in Berlin on October 7.
Bowel cancer remains a major health concern:
It’s the fourth most common cancer in the UK and US, with 44,000 and 142,000 annual cases, respectively.
Symptoms include changes in bowel habits, blood in stool, abdominal pain, bloating, and unexplained weight loss.
Cases among younger adults have risen by 50% over the past three decades.
According to Cancer Research UK, more than half of bowel cancer cases are preventable — highlighting the importance of diet, lifestyle, and, possibly, reducing exposure to microplastics.
This study adds to growing evidence that microplastics are not just an environmental issue—they may directly affect our health. While scientists caution that it’s too early to draw firm conclusions, minimizing contact with microplastics in food, water, and daily products is a sensible precaution.
