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Data Protection Declaration
Imprint
Oral uptake and transcriptional effects of microplastic particles
Project
Project code: BfR-LMS-08-1322-622
Contract period: 01.01.2015
- 31.12.2016
Purpose of research: Basic research
Plastic particles with diameters of ~1 µm up to several millimeters are generally termed microplastic. Microplastic can substantially differ in material and shape and might either be industrially produced as such or be generated in the environment due to decomposition and degradation of plastic material. Published data show that consumers are exposed to microplastic via the oral route. Systemic availability of orally administered microplastic has been shown several times in animal studies, whereas data on toxicologically relevant endpoints are missing almost entirely, as do quantitative values about the degree of gastrointestinal resorption. Within the proposed project, the size-dependent uptake of plastic particles of different sizes will be investigated by an in vivo-study in transgenic mice, which possess reporter systems for oxidative stress and inflammation, frequent endpoints of particle exposition. Tissue particle burden will be analyzed by microscopic determination of fluorescent particles. For the detection of a broad spectrum of possible effects in different target tissues, Affymetrix microarray analyses of global gene expression will be conducted.
Section overview
Subjects
- Toxicology
