Bioaccumulation of micro- and nanoplastics in mice and rats

The proliferation of micro- and nanoplastics in the environment is increasing at an alarming rate, and the evaluation of their possible health effects has emerged as a critical yet unmet scientific need. Radiolabeled plastic particles enable the use of non-invasive and quantitative molecular imaging methods (i.e. PET and SPECT) to explore the biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of micro- and nanoplastics. For example, this novel approach could shed light on the gut retention time of micro- and nanoplastics, their ability to cross epithelial membranes, and the influence of different uptake routes on their ultimate biodistribution. Furthermore, the exquisite sensitivity of radioactivity detection methods would enable the evaluation of the bioaccumulation of micro- and nanoplastics at very low, environmentally realistic concentrations.