Plastic particles can increase intestinal inflammation

Study shows interaction between micro- and nanoplastics and ulcerative colitis

Medical University of Vienna

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A research team led by the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna has investigated a possible link between the rising number of people with chronic inflammatory bowel disease and the increasing exposure to micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs). The research shows that plastic particles influence the immune cells and the intestinal microbiome and can thus increase inflammation. The results were recently published in the journal Microplastics and Nanoplastics. 

The harmful effects of MNP were investigated in a mouse model with ulcerative colitis, one of the most common forms of chronic inflammatory bowel disease. The study focussed on polystyrene particles of different sizes that were applied orally. Polystyrene is a widely used plastic that is frequently used for food packaging such as yoghurt cups, meat trays or take-away boxes. The research team's extensive molecular and histological analyses provided evidence of interactions between MNP and intestinal inflammation

The uptake of MNP by the intestinal mucosa was increased under inflammatory conditions. In addition, MNP exposure intensified the inflammatory immune response in the gut by triggering a pro-inflammatory activation of certain immune cells (macrophages). In addition, MNP exposure led to a disruption of the gut microbiome: the researchers observed a decrease in beneficial and an increase in pro-inflammatory and potentially harmful bacterial species. 

Effects beyond the intestine
"Furthermore, our study shows that under inflammatory conditions, MNPs not only accumulate in the intestine but also in other excretory organs such as the liver and kidneys, as well as in the bloodstream," explains study leader Lukas Kenner from the Medical University of Vienna. This effect was observed particularly in the case of the very small nanoplastic particles, measuring less than 0.0003 millimeters, and indicates "that MNPs can cross biological barriers and have systemic effects far beyond the intestine," adds co-study leader Verena Pichler from the University of Vienna.

Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis are on the rise, as is pollution from micro and nanoplastic particles. As the gastrointestinal tract is particularly exposed to increasing MNP exposure, the scientists focussed on researching a possible correlation: "Our results indicate that MNP is a previously underestimated factor in the development and intensification of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases," says Lukas Kenner. Further studies should substantiate the findings. "However, the urgent appeal to society and politicians to take measures to reduce MNP pollution is already clear."

The study was conducted in cooperation with the biomarker research institute CBMed GmbH (Graz, Austria) within the COMET module "microONE", funded by the Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism (BMWET), the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility and Infrastucture (BMIMI), Land Steiermark (Styrian Business Promotion Agency – SFG) and Land Wien (Vienna Business Agency – WAW). The COMET Module programme is executed by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG).

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Journal

Microplastics and Nanoplastics

DOI

10.1186/s43591-025-00160-7 

Article Title

Polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in a colitis mouse model – effects on biodistribution, macrophage polarization, and gut microbiome

Global study reveals widespread burning of plastic for heating and cooking

Prevalence of plastic waste as a household fuel in low-income communities of the Global South

Research sheds new light on the prevalence of burning plastic as an everyday energy source, uncovering serious international health, social equality and environmental concerns.

Curtin University

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A new Curtin University-led study has shed new light on the widespread number of households in developing countries burning plastic as an everyday energy source, uncovering serious international health, social equality and environmental concerns.

 

Published in Nature Communications, the research surveyed more than 1000 respondents across 26 countries who work closely with low-income urban neighbourhoods, such as researchers, government workers and community leaders.

 

One in three respondents said they were aware of households burning plastic, with many personally witnessing neighbours or community members doing so.

 

A smaller but significant group reported having burned plastic themselves.

 

Lead researcher Dr Bishal Bharadwaj, from the Curtin Institute for Energy Transition (CIET), said the study was the first to provide broad global evidence of households burning plastic to not only dispose of waste, but also cook food, heat homes, light fires and keep insects away.

 

“This is an issue that has largely been happening out of sight in communities and been difficult to get accurate data on, however this survey provides additional insights into what is going on,” Dr Bharadwaj said.

 

“When families can’t afford cleaner fuels and have no reliable waste collection, plastic becomes both a nuisance and a last-resort energy source. We found evidence of people burning everything from plastic bags and wrappers to bottles and packaging, just to meet basic household needs.

 

“The practice is far more widespread than anyone realised, but because it happens in marginalised communities and is often hidden, it has escaped meaningful global attention despite the severe risks to health and the environment.”

 

The team found households frequently used simple stoves such as three-stone fires, charcoal stoves and makeshift burners to burn plastic, producing toxic smoke inside homes and densely populated areas.

 

Women, children, older residents and people with disabilities were identified as those most exposed.

 

Co-author Professor Hari Vuthaluru from Curtin's Western Australian School of Mines (WASM) said the burning of materials such as mixed plastics and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) posed severe risks from toxic emissions.

 

“When PVC is burned, it releases highly toxic dioxins and furans, which are among the most dangerous pollutants known,” Professor Vuthaluru said.

 

“These compounds persist in the environment, accumulate in the food chain and can cause serious health problems including cancer, reproductive disorders and immune system damage.

 

“PVC ranks as the third most commonly burned plastic, which is extremely concerning.”

 

Co-researcher Dr Pramesh Dhungana from Curtin's School of Molecular and Life Sciences said the study highlighted the risks of food contamination from plastic burning.

 

“Our survey found 60 per cent of respondents thought it extremely likely that toxic chemicals from burning plastic could contaminate food and water,” Dr Dhungana said.

 

“This isn't just theoretical: studies near plastic burning sites have found toxic compounds in eggs and soil samples.

 

“When plastic burns near homes and food preparation areas, these toxins can settle on crops, enter water sources and accumulate in foods, creating a hidden health crisis for communities already facing significant challenges.”

 

Co-author and CIET Director Professor Peta Ashworth said addressing the issue required far more than simply telling households not to burn plastic - and targeted action was required quickly given plastic use is projected to triple by 2060.

 

“People only do this because they have no safer alternatives, due to root causes such as extreme energy poverty, unaffordable cleaner fuels and inadequate waste services,” Professor Ashworth said.
 

“It’s essential that solutions include improving sanitation, supporting access to modern cooking energy and working with communities on practical, culturally relevant options.

 

“This research provides the evidence base needed to design interventions that genuinely support the world’s most vulnerable urban residents.”

 

‘Prevalence of plastic waste as a household fuel in low-income communities of the Global South’ was published in Nature Communications.

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Journal

Nature Communications

DOI

10.1038/s41467-025-67512-y 

Method of Research

Survey

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Prevalence of plastic waste as a household fuel in low-income communities of the Global South

Article Publication Date

8-Jan-2026

Can biodegradable plastic mulch boost chili yield in Sri Lanka?

Higher Education Press

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Chili is a vital cash crop in many countries, and Sri Lanka is no exception. As one of the pillar industries of the country’s agriculture, chili not only meets domestic consumption needs but also is exported to markets such as India, the Middle East, and Europe in the form of processed products like dried chili and chili powder, supporting the livelihoods of numerous smallholder farmers. However, local farmers have long faced challenges including water scarcity, nutrient loss, and weed competition. Particularly against the backdrop of climate change exacerbating erratic rainfall, yield stability is severely threatened.

To address these issues, plastic film mulching (PFM) has been widely adopted. It promotes crop growth by reducing soil evaporation, regulating temperature, and improving water use efficiency. Nevertheless, the long-term use of traditional non-biodegradable mulches (such as polyethylene mulch) leads to soil microplastic accumulation and ecological pollution. The effectiveness and sustainability of biodegradable mulches in high-rainfall wet zone agriculture have not been fully verified.

So, in ecologically sensitive regions like Sri Lanka’s wet zone, how do different types of plastic mulches affect soil properties and chili yield? Can biodegradable mulch emerge as a viable alternative that balances productivity and environmental protection?

Dr. Mojith ARIYARATNA from the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, and his colleagues conducted a field experiment in the country to systematically compare the effects of three types of plastic mulches: black non-biodegradable low-density polyethylene (LDPE) mulch, silver-black reflective LDPE mulch, and polylactic acid-polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PLA-PBAT) biodegradable mulch, with unmulched soil as the control. The experiment lasted for 7 months, covering both dry and wet seasons, and the chili variety cultivated was “MICH HY-1”, which is widely grown locally. Researchers regularly measured soil physicochemical properties and crop growth indicators to evaluate the comprehensive impact of different mulches on chili production. The relevant article was published in Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering (DOI: 10.15302/J-FASE-2025648).

The results showed that all mulch treatments significantly improved soil conditions and crop performance. In terms of soil moisture retention, the gravimetric moisture content (GMC) of mulched groups was higher than that of the control group at multiple key time points. The biodegradable mulch performed particularly well during the dry period; for example, the soil moisture content reached 23.6% at 8 weeks after planting, significantly higher than the control group’s 9.3%. Regarding soil temperature, the black non-biodegradable mulch had the most pronounced warming effect, with the highest temperature reaching 33.3 ℃, while the control group consistently maintained the lowest temperature. This helps promote chili root activity and nutrient uptake.

Nutrient retention is another important function of mulches. The experiment found that mulching effectively reduced the loss of soil nitrate nitrogen (NO3–) and available phosphorus (P), but had no significant effect on ammonium nitrogen (NH4+). In addition, although mulching did not change soil pH, it increased electrical conductivity (EC), indicating an accumulation of soluble salts and nutrients in the soil, which is associated with reduced leaching loss.

In terms of crop growth and yield, the advantages of mulch treatments were more significant. Chili plants under non-biodegradable mulch had the highest plant height; the biodegradable mulch achieved the highest total yield, followed by the reflective mulch and non-biodegradable mulch. Notably, the biodegradable mulch showed stable performance in all harvests, and its final biomass was comparable to that of non-biodegradable mulch, demonstrating its substitution potential in terms of productivity.

This study systematically evaluated the comprehensive performance of biodegradable mulch and traditional mulch in Sri Lanka’s wet zone. Previous studies have mostly focused on arid or semi-arid regions, while data on the effectiveness and environmental risks of mulches under high rainfall conditions in wet zones has been lacking. This research indicates that biodegradable mulch is comparable to non-biodegradable mulch in maintaining soil moisture, nutrients, and crop yield, while avoiding plastic residue problems, providing a feasible solution for sustainable agriculture in tropical high-rainfall regions.

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Journal

Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering

DOI

10.15302/J-FASE-2025648 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Biodegradable and non-biodegradable plastic mulches enhance chili production in Sri Lankan wet zone agriculture

Article Publication Date

15-Feb-2026

How do biodegradable plastic films affect microplastics and soil microorganisms in paddy fields?

Higher Education Press

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In agricultural production, microplastics have become environmental pollutants that cannot be ignored. They may not only enter the food chain through the soil-plant system, threatening food safety, but also alter the physical and chemical properties of soil, interfere with microbial functions, and thereby affect soil health and crop growth. Traditional non-degradable plastic films are one of the main sources of microplastics in farmland. However, after long-term use, such films will gradually break down due to sunlight, microbial action, and mechanical wear, forming a large amount of microplastics that remain in the soil. To alleviate this problem, biodegradable plastic films have been widely promoted in recent years. Theoretically, such films can be decomposed by microorganisms in the natural environment, reducing plastic residues, but there are still controversies in practical applications: Can biodegradable plastic films really reduce the accumulation of microplastics? Will their degradation process change the characteristics such as particle size and morphology of microplastics in the soil? More importantly, what impact will they have on the soil microbial community involved in microplastic degradation? These issues are directly related to whether biodegradable plastic films can become truly “environmentally friendly” agricultural alternatives.

As the world’s major rice-producing country, China’s paddy field ecosystem is crucial to food security. However, for a long time, to increase yields, many paddy fields in southern China have adopted plastic film mulching technology to retain water and increase temperature, which also makes paddy fields a key area of concern for microplastic pollution. Against this background, Professor Rui Jiang from Soochow University and her colleagues conducted an empirical study on typical paddy fields in southern China. By comparing two types of soils—those with long-term use of biodegradable plastic films (BF) and those with no use of plastic films (CK)—they studied the core issue of “how biodegradable plastic films affect the distribution of microplastics and microbial degradation functions in paddy fields”. The relevant article was published in Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Volume 13, Issue 1 (DOI: 10.15302/J-FASE-2025629).

The study first focused on the morphological code of microplastics. The results showed that there were significant differences in the distribution characteristics of microplastics between the two types of soils: in the soil with biodegradable plastic films, the number of microplastics with a particle size of 0.25–0.1 mm was significantly higher; in terms of morphology, there were more film-like microplastics in the soil with biodegradable plastic films, while the soil without plastic films was dominated by fibrous microplastics. This indicates that the degradation process of biodegradable plastic films does change the appearance of microplastics—it tends to form smaller and thinner film-like fragments.

However, the study found no significant difference in the total content of microplastics between the two types of soils. This means that biodegradable plastic films do not increase the total amount of microplastics due to their own degradation; instead, they may promote the conversion of microplastics into simpler structures through a more efficient degradation process.

Through gene sequencing, the research team found that although there was no significant difference in the diversity of microorganisms involved in microplastic degradation between the soil with biodegradable plastic films and the soil without plastic films, the division of labor structure of the microbial community was quite different. Further analysis revealed that a total of 26 functional genes and 10 microbial genera were directly related to the degradation of major polymers.

More importantly, the preferences of different microorganisms for different polymers also changed due to the use of biodegradable plastic films. For example, in the degradation of polystyrene (PS), the genus Nocardioides contributed about 9% in the soil without plastic films, but dropped to 5% in the soil with biodegradable plastic films; in the degradation of polyethylene, the contribution of the genus Bradyrhizobium was more prominent in the soil with biodegradable plastic films compared to the soil without plastic films. These changes indicate that biodegradable plastic films improve the degradation efficiency of microplastics by reshaping the structure of the microbial community.

This study shows that biodegradable plastic films not only have the yield-preserving advantages of traditional plastic films, but also reduce the environmental risks of long-term accumulation of microplastics through synergistic effect with soil microorganisms, providing important scientific support for the sustainable application of biodegradable plastic films.

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Journal

Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering

DOI

10.15302/J-FASE-2025629 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Effect of biodegradable films on microplastic distribution and microbial community composition in paddy soil

Article Publication Date

15-Feb-2026