Study confirms certain probiotics can absorb and facilitate excretion of nano-plastics!

A study published in the journal Bioresource Technology found that certain strains of probiotics will preferentially absorb nano-plastics in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby facilitate excretion of these potentially harmful substances from our bodies.

Plastics have become ubiquitous in our world, including in the packaging of foods.  Think about your own food and beverage consumption—so many foods are packaged in plastics, particularly salads, beverages, yogurts, take-out containers and restaurant left-overs.  These packages can leak microplastics and nano-plastics into food and liquids, particularly when heated.  Studies have confirmed billions of microplastic particles can be released when heating plastic containers.

While we are only beginning to understand the health implications of micro and nanoplastics, an excellent and recent large-scale review implicated these plastic particles in reproductive, digestive, and respiratory disease, as well as in colon and lung cancer!

The researchers mentioned above in the Bioresource Technology article found that probiotics obtained specifically from the food kimchi, a traditional Korean dish containing fermented vegetables, increased fecal excretion of nano-plastics!  The probiotic that best accomplished this process was Leuconostoc mesenteroides, found in both kimchi as well as sauerkraut, and also available in some supplements .

Looking forward to having kimchi for lunch today to further reduce my nano-plastic burden!