Micro and nanoplastics are small pieces of plastic that, due to their difficulty in degrading, remain in the environment for a long time. These particles are found in food, drinking water, air and soils, and despite efforts to assess the real dimension of the risks they pose to humans, the knowledge available to date is insufficient. In order to better understand the impact that these materials and the additives and pollutants associated with them have on health, the European project Plastics Fate and Effects in the Human Body (PlasticsFatE) arises in which the Gaiker Technological Center participates, a member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA).

This project is primarily based on the fact that only validated and tested methods, models and approaches can produce scientifically sound data to improve the current understanding of the toxicity and fate of plastic particles in the human body. For this reason, new methodologies will be developed that will be integrated into a risk assessment strategy specifically designed for micro and nanoplastics.

First, a selection and characterization will be carried out both of representative groups of plastics, which will be used as test and reference materials, as well as the most suitable methods for the preparation of samples and their physicochemical characterization. These selected methods will be developed and adapted to identify and detect micro and nanoplastics in complex matrices: food, human tissue, consumer products, etc. In addition, to study the effect of these particles on the human body, advanced in vitro / in vivo models will be selected, developed and used. And finally, interlaboratory studies will be carried out in order to verify and guarantee the reliability of the methods developed to obtain robust and comparable results.

Gaiker, who has extensive experience in the development and validation of toxicological studies of nanomaterials, will be in charge of this project to develop, adapt and evaluate in vitro models to study the intestinal absorption of micro and nanoplastics and their additives and contaminants from different sources of exposure. Likewise, it will study its toxicity and immune effects. On the other hand, the Center will investigate the microbial colonization of micro and nanoplastics as vectors of potential pathogens.
PlasticsFatE (2020-2024) is funded by the European Commission within the H2020 Research and Innovation Program (Contract No.: 965367).