When introduced into the human body, it also confirms the induction of immune cell inflammation.
 |
| Inha University research team announced on the 12th that they detected nanoscale plastics below one nanometer through uniform nano-pores of 1.4 nanometers in disposable paper cups coated with polyethylene. They also successfully confirmed that nanoscale plastics below one nanometer can induce inflammatory responses in immune cells (increased production of interleukin-6). Provided by Inha University. |
Inha University research team discovered microplastics in disposable paper cups for the first time in the world and identified their effects on the human body.
According to Inha University on the 12th, doctoral student Conditions Ho of the Department of Bio-Systems Convergence and integrated master's and doctoral students Kim Ki-dong and Jin Wi-hyun discovered plastic particles smaller than nanometers, about one ten-thousandth of a hair's thickness, in disposable paper cups coated with polyethylene (PE).
The research team also confirmed that the small plastic particles they discovered could trigger an inflammatory response in immune cells.
Recently, the increased use of disposable products has brought microplastics from single-use plastics to the forefront as a social issue due to their impact on human health.
The size of microplastics identified so far ranges from several nanometers (billionths of a meter) to micrometers (millionths of a meter).
Various sizes of microplastics were detected using analysis instruments such as electron microscopes, nanoparticle tracking analyzers, and localized surface plasmon resonance. However, previous technologies and equipment had limitations in detecting substances smaller than nanometers.
In this study, we detected nanoscale plastics smaller than a nanometer, which could not be identified with current technology and equipment, using nanopore sensing methods.
Nanopore sensing is a method that measures real-time picoampere-level current changes (one trillionth of an ampere) as proteins (alpha-hemolysin) pass through nanopores (holes).
 |
| (From the left) Condition Ho, Kim Ki-dong, Jin Wi-hyun, graduate students in the Department of Bio-Systems Convergence at Inha University; supervised by Professor Son Se-jin of the Department of Life Sciences, Professor Jeon Tae-jun of the Department of Biotechnology, and Professor Kim Sun-min of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Provided by Inha University. |
The research team confirmed that when hot water is poured into polyethylene-coated paper cups used in daily life using the developed technology, more than 1.3 hundred million (垓) nanometer or smaller microplastics are leached from the paper cup.
It has also been confirmed that microplastics smaller than nanometers, like micro- and nanometer-sized microplastics, can cause inflammation of immune cells.
The degree of inflammation caused was found to be approximately 88% compared to nanometer-sized microplastics of the same mass. However, the research team explained that smaller particles are more easily absorbed by the human body, making micro- and nanoplastics potentially just as harmful to humans.
The research team's paper containing this content was published online in the prestigious international environmental journal, Chemical Engineering Journal, under the title "Nanopore Detection of Sub-Nanosized Plastics in PE-Coated Paper Cups and Analysis of their Inflammatory Responses."
Student Kondoho said, "With the help of my advisor and fellow students, I was able to achieve good results."
He added, "We want to raise awareness of the seriousness of microplastics emerging as an environmental issue and contribute to solving related problems."
Meanwhile, this study was supported by the Basic Research Laboratory of the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Mid-career Researcher Support Program, and the Environmental Technology Development Project of the Ministry of Environment.
