"Silent" Invasion of Microplastics Polyvinyl Chloride and Polyethylene Terephthalate: Potential Impact on Osteoporosis

Abstract

Background: The relationship between the environment and diseases is a crucial and complex topic that has garnered significant attention in recent years. In our study, we also follow the thread and explore the correlation between microplastics and osteoporosis.Methods and Results: We found that microplastics were detected in the blood samples of nearly all participants. Moreover,It was compelling that PVC and PET emerged as the most common microplastic polymers in our study. A verification process was conducted comparing the clinical data with the results of microplastic detection. This analysis revealed a significant exposure risk to microplastics from sources such as bottled water, take-out containers. Through molecular biology techniques, we confirmed that microplastics have a significant toxic effect on osteoblasts and associated with abnormal gene expression.Conclusion: Microplastics may be considered to have a potential correlation with the progression of osteoporosis.

Note:
Funding declaration: The research was supported by "Youth Science and Technology Talent Support Project" for Higher Education Institutions in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region No.NJYT23054, General Program of Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region No.2023D01C77and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Tianshan Innovation Team Plan No.2023D14005.

Conflict of Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Ethical Approval: This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Inner Mongolia Medical University.

Keywords: MPs, Polyvinyl chloride, Polyethylene terephthalate, Osteoporosis