A new study suggests that microplastics released from everyday consumer products can directly harm the pancreas, raising fresh concerns about their impact on human health.
Previous research has linked microplastics to a range of health problems, including hormonal disruption, diabetes, stroke, and several types of cancer. However, most earlier studies were unable to establish a clear, direct causal relationship.
The latest research provides new evidence confirming that polyethylene terephthalate (PET) - a key component of plastic bottles - has toxic effects on the pancreas.
In a study conducted by researchers from Poland and Spain, PET microplastics were found to exert harmful effects on pancreatic cells taken from pigs, potentially contributing to the development of diabetes and obesity.
Scientists exposed pig pancreatic tissue to varying concentrations of PET microplastics and examined fat accumulation and toxic responses at the cellular level.
The findings revealed alarming evidence that PET microplastics can increase cell death within the pancreas and disrupt the organ’s normal functioning. The study also found that these microplastics directly interfere with proteins essential for proper pancreatic activity.
