For the first time, scientists from the Medical University of Vienna have proven that Micro and Nanoplastic can favor cancer. They investigated how plastic interacted with different lung cell types.
The magnifying glass was polystyrene, a widespread plastic and occurs in food packaging and disposable items such as yogurt cups. The result: healthy lung cells absorb particularly small particles of micro and nanoplasty than malignant cancer cells. They also respond with biological changes that illustrate the risk of health.
According to the study, according to the study, according to the study increased celligration, DNA damage, oxidative stress and the activation of signal paths that, for example, promote cell growth, for example. All these processes are seen as early indications for the development of cancer. “Above all, the reduced capacity of the healthy cells to restore DNA damage was and the simultaneous activation of certain signal paths that normally favor cell growth,” said research director Karin Schelch.
Defense mechanisms initiated
Under the same circumstances, however, malignant lung cells remained relatively unaffected. Defense mechanisms of the cells were started under the influence of the plastic particles. “(…) An indication that the cells actively defend themselves against the stress due to plastic particles,” said first author Büsra Ernhofer.
The lungs are one of the most important access routes for microplastics from the sky. “The data available now offer the first instructions that healthy lung cells in particular respond in a way that gives concern,” said Döme of Fellow-Eatbalaz. This results in new questions about the possible link between plastic pollution, chronic lung diseases and the development of cancer. The study was published in the specialized magazine “Journal of Hazardous Materials”.
Source: Krone
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