Uptake and Excretion of a Single Dose of Oral 14C-labelled Polystyrene Microplastics in Healthy Volunteers

Human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) is increasingly recognized, yet their internal behavior in the body-absorption, distribution, and elimination-is still not well understood. No human data currently exist to support toxicokinetic modeling, which is essential for translating laboratory (in vitro) data into risk assessments. This study addresses this gap by quantifying the biokinetics of a single oral microdose of 1 μm [14C]-labelled polystyrene microplastics in healthy volunteers. By using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), extremely low concentrations of radiolabeled particles can be accurately measured in biological matrices (blood, urine, and feces). This will provide critical benchmark data to validate in vitro-to-in vivo extrapolations and improve human health risk assessments for microplastics.

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy males and females using contraception during and for 3 months after the study.
• Aged from 18-65 years at the time of signing informed consent
• 18.5 < BMI < 25 kg·m-2
• Must be willing and able to communicate and participate in the whole study
• Must have regular bowel movements (i.e. average stool production of ≥1 and ≤3 stools per day)

Exclusion criteria

• Diabetes (Type 1, Type 2, or genetic form of diabetes)
• Any diagnosed cardiovascular (heart) disease or high blood pressure (≥140 mmHg systolic and/or ≥90 mmHg diastolic)
• History of clinically significant cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, chronic respiratory or gastro-intestinal disease, immunodeficiency, endocrine, neurological or psychiatric disorders
• Known severe kidney problems
• Subjects who have regular gastrointestinal complaints including abdominal pain, stomach upsets and borborygmi, known or suspected irritable bowel syndrome, or functional constipation
• Recent or chronic history of diarrhoea
• Known anaemia
• Known impaired liver function
• A personal or family history of thrombosis (clots), epilepsy, seizures, or schizophrenia.
• Chronic use of any prescribed or over the counter pharmaceuticals (excluding oral contraceptives and contraceptive devices)
• History of any drug or alcohol abuse in the past two years
• A confirmed positive alcohol breath test at screening or admission
• Any known food allergies or intolerances to the 14 major food allergens (celery, cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs, mustard, tree nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, soybeans, sulphur dioxide and sulphites) or history of a malabsorption syndrome including coeliac disease
• Currently taking part in other scientific research
• Having received a product with 14C in the past 12 months
• Pregnant or breastfeeding
• Subjects who have taken antibiotics within the 60 days prior to the adaptation period.
• Unable to give consent
• Employed or undertaking a thesis or internship at the department of Human and Animal Physiology