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PLASTICINE

Microplastics exposure in infants and adults, and the association with intestinal markers of inflammation, permeability, and microbiota

Duration
01/01/2024 - 31/12/2026
Coordinator
Cristina Villanueva
Funded by
Proyecto PI23/00615

Microplastics are emerging contaminants found in food, drinking water and the atmosphere. Population exposure and potential health effects are unknown. 

PLASTICINE will evaluate exposure to microplastics and the association with gut health markers in the general population at different life stages. The specific objectives are:

  • Measure microplastics concentration in biological samples (stool); 
  • Identify personal factors leading to exposure; 
  • Evaluate the association with local markers of intestinal health (microbiota, inflammation, and mucosal integrity)

Methods

The study population included 18-month-old infants enrolled in the BiSC cohort (N=400) and healthy adults enrolled in a previous study (N=50), both in Barcelona and in the metropolitan area. Information on diet, socio-demographic factors, lifestyle, etc. was collected through questionnaires. Stool samples previously collected (2022-2023) according to specific protocols for the markers to be analysed and frozen (-20/-80º) are available. 

Microplastics will be analysed in infant samples and gut health markers in adult samples: microbiome, calprotectin and zonulin (ELISA). Measurements of microbiota in the same infant samples and microplastics in the same adult samples are available. Data analysis will include descriptive analysis of all variables and multivariate models to quantify the association between gut health markers and microplastic concentration, adjusting for covariates. 

Total Funding 

158.750 €

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