Do you consider it important to focus on the fight against plastic pollution?

Undoubtedly, it is crucial. Plastic pollution is not only an environmental problem, but also an emerging risk to human health. In recent years, evidence has accumulated that microplastics and nanoplastics, result from the degradation of plastic waste, can enter the food chain and reach our bodies through food consumption, water and even inhalation. Most worryingly from a toxicological point of view, these plastics could act as vehicles for other toxic substances, such as heavy metals or persistent organic pollutants, and could also induce direct biological effects, including inflammation, oxidative stress and potential genotoxicity.
 

How can this problem be addressed from your research area ?

From toxicology focused on human health, and especially from the study of genotoxicity, this problem can be addressed by investigating how micro- and nanoplastics, as well as the chemicals they contain (such as phthalates or bisphenols), can damage DNA or interfere with the repair mechanisms of genetic material. Human cellular models and in vitro programs of study can be used to assess whether these materials induce DNA breaks, chromosomal aberrations, or mutations. In addition, standardized protocols could be developed to evaluate chronic human exhibition to low levels of these contaminants. For the latter, analytical and molecular biology techniques should be available to identify early markers of exhibition and effect, with the goal of improving risk assessment .
 

Are you participating in any project related to this issue? Tell us briefly! If not, what project or idea would you like to implement to tackle plastic pollution?

Currently, we are not directly involved in a specific project on plastics, but a collaborative proposal could be designed with ecotoxicology and food science groups. The goal would be to create an interdisciplinary project that combines the characterization of micro- and nanoplastics in processed foods and drinking waters with toxicological assessment in human models, focusing on genotoxicity and inflammatory effects.

* Ariane Vettorazzi belongs to the Biodiversity and Environment Institute BIOMA. Learn more about her research.