Environment and Health: Influence of Microplastic and Nanoplastics on Lung Cells

环境与健康：微塑料和纳米塑料对肺细胞的影响

• 批准号: 2903658
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Leicester
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2903658
• 关键词: Environment; Health; Influence; Microplastic; Nanoplastics

Macroscale plastic waste polluting the earth is now a well-known issue, triggering policies that aim to limit the production and use of plastic bags and bottles, and increase of recycling. However, plastics at much smaller scale, namely, microplastics (particles < 5 mm) and nanoplastics (particles < 1 um), can have insidious effects, which raise growing awareness and concern. These particles are produced from a variety of sources, such as breakdown of larger plastic debris into smaller pieces, synthetic clothing fibres, dust from tyres, and even from chewing gums and toothpastes. MNPLs are ubiquitous in the marine environment, which are now found inside living organisms, and can have diverse impact on marine ecosystems and humans through physical damage and chemical transfer of toxicants. Humans are extensively and inevitably exposed to environmental MNPLs, mainly through inhalation and ingestion.1-3 MNPLs are now ubiquitous in our daily life; for example, a recent analysis of tap water samples from around the world found that a high proportion (>80%) of drinking water is contaminated with MNPLs. MNPLs can cause oxidative stress, inflammatory lesions, increased internalization or translocation through tissues. Once internalized, MNPLs can release toxic compounds added during manufacture to enhance the polymers' performance. Additionally, MNPLs can adsorb and facilitate the transport of other environmental contaminants and pathogens into living organisms, in the way of a Trojan horse. Microplastics have recently been detected in human lungs, phlegm and bloodstream; and studies suggest that exposure to MNPLs contributes to respiratory problems in certain groups of workers.4-6 Experiments in rodents support a detrimental role of MNPLs in lung health, e.g., via changes in the epithelial cells that line the airways, increased inflammation, and airway tissue thickening (termed "fibrosis").7,8 This project will study the effects of MNPLs on airway smooth muscle (ASM) and epithelial cells that surround the airways in fibres/bundles, which are important as they help maintain the airway calibre in health and can become dysfunctional in respiratory disease that contributes to breathing difficulties. The lung microbial community also plays a major role in respiratory health and disease, which will be influenced by MNPLs and will be explored.

大规模的塑料垃圾污染地球现在是一个众所周知的问题，引发了旨在限制塑料袋和塑料瓶的生产和使用以及增加回收的政策。然而，小得多的塑料，即微塑料（颗粒< 5 mm）和纳米塑料（颗粒< 1 um），可能会产生潜在的影响，这引起了越来越多的认识和关注。这些颗粒物的产生有多种来源，如较大的塑料碎片分解成较小的碎片、合成服装纤维、轮胎灰尘，甚至口香糖和牙膏。MNPL在海洋环境中无处不在，现在在生物体内发现，并通过物理破坏和有毒物质的化学转移对海洋生态系统和人类产生各种影响。人类广泛且不可避免地暴露于环境MNPLs，主要通过吸入和摄入。1 -3 MNPLs现在在我们的日常生活中无处不在;例如，最近对来自世界各地的自来水样品的分析发现，高比例（>80%）的饮用水被MNPLs污染。MNPL可引起氧化应激、炎性病变、增加的内化或通过组织的移位。一旦内化，MNPL可以释放在制造过程中添加的有毒化合物，以提高聚合物的性能。此外，MNPLs可以吸附和促进其他环境污染物和病原体以特洛伊木马的方式进入活生物体。最近在人类肺部、痰液和血液中检测到微塑料;研究表明，暴露于MNPL会导致某些工人群体的呼吸问题。4 -6啮齿动物实验支持MNPL对肺部健康的有害作用，例如，通过气道上皮细胞的变化，炎症增加和气道组织增厚（称为“纤维化”）。7，8该项目将研究MNPL对气道平滑肌（ASM）和纤维/束中围绕气道的上皮细胞的影响，这很重要，因为它们有助于维持健康的气道口径，并且可能在呼吸疾病中出现功能障碍，导致呼吸困难。肺部微生物群落在呼吸系统健康和疾病中也起着重要作用，这将受到MNPL的影响，并将进行探索。