Microplastics can reach deep into bone tissue, Brazilian study suggests

A new analysis from Brazil suggests microplastics can reach deep into bone tissue and may disturb bone metabolism, potentially weakening bones and increasing the risk of fractures. The team behind the review, led by researchers at Brazil's Laboratory for Mineral and Bone Studies in Nephrology, published the findings in Osteoporosis International.

The study is a synthesis of 62 scientific studies examining how microplastics interact with bone cells and tissues. It highlights effects on osteoclasts, the cells that break down old bone to make way for new tissue, and notes that microplastics can hasten the aging of these cells and disrupt the bone-renewal cycle. The researchers say microplastics can reach deep into bone tissue, including bone marrow, and may disturb its metabolism, potentially contributing to bone fragility.

The findings were published recently in Osteoporosis International. The researchers plan to extend the work by studying how microplastics affect the strength of rodent femurs, with the aim of clarifying what the results could mean for people. The disease osteoporosis, which makes bones weak, brittle and more likely to fracture, is becoming more prevalent because of the aging population and increases in obesity, diabetes and inactive lifestyles.

Although osteometabolic diseases are relatively well understood, there is a gap in knowledge regarding the influence of microplastics on the development of these diseases. Oliveira and colleagues say one goal is to generate evidence suggesting that microplastics could be a potential controllable environmental cause to explain, for example, the projected rise in bone fractures due to demographic changes and lifestyle factors.

In the meantime, there are easy ways to reduce exposure to microplastics. For starters, consider using a different water bottle, avoiding polyester clothing and installing a filter for tap water.