Hormonal
Exposure to microplastics (MPs) and their chemical additives (e.g., phthalates, bisphenols) acts as an obesogen by disrupting lipid and energy metabolism through the activation of nuclear receptors (PPARs, RXR) and altering adipogenesis.
You are likely exposed to microplastics daily through air, dust, and food. While you cannot eliminate all exposure, you can reduce it by avoiding heating food in plastic containers, using glass or stainless steel for hot beverages, and filtering drinking water. The paper suggests these exposures may contribute to metabolic disruption via hormonal pathways.
Exposure of human cell lines to MP additives such as phthalates, bisphenols, and organotins causes adverse effects through the activation of nuclear receptors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) a, b, and g, and retinoid X receptor (RXR), immunotoxicity, thyroid hormone disruption, and altered adipogenesis and energy production.
Why this rating
Evidence is derived from laboratory animals, human cell lines, and biomonitoring of exposure, but direct causal clinical trials in humans are lacking.
Source
A Review of Human Exposure to Microplastics and Insights Into Microplastics as Obesogens
Kurunthachalam Kannan et al. · Frontiers in Endocrinology · 2021
DOI 10.3389/fendo.2021.724989
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