Detection of microplastics in human colectomy specimens

Yusof Shuaib Ibrahim; Sabiqah Tuan Anuar; Alyza A. Azmi; Wan Mohd Afiq Wan Mohd Khalik; Shumpei Lehata; Siti Rabaah Hamzah; Dzulkiflee Ismail; Zheng Feei Ma; Andee Dzulkarnaen; Zaidi Zakaria; Nazri Mustaffa; Sharifah Emilia Tuan Sharif; Yeong Yeh Lee

doi:10.1002/jgh3.12457

Detection of microplastics in human colectomy specimens

Yusof Shuaib Ibrahim, Sabiqah Tuan Anuar, Alyza A. Azmi, Wan Mohd Afiq Wan Mohd Khalik, Shumpei Lehata, Siti Rabaah Hamzah, Dzulkiflee Ismail, Zheng Feei Ma, Andee Dzulkarnaen, Zaidi Zakaria, Nazri Mustaffa, Sharifah Emilia Tuan Sharif, Yeong Yeh Lee^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Health and Environmental Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

306 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background and Aim: While dietary exposure to microplastics is increasingly recognized, it is unknown if ingested plastics remain within the digestive tract. We aimed to examine human colectomy specimens for microplastics and to report the characteristics as well as polymer composition of the particles. Methods: Colectomy samples were obtained from 11 adults (mean age 45.7, six males) who were residents of Northeastern Peninsular Malaysia. Microplastics were identified following chemical digestion of specimens and subsequent filtration. The samples were then examined for characteristics (abundance, length, shape, and color) and composition of three common polymer types using stereo- and Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) microscopes. Results: Microplastics were detected in all 11 specimens with an average of 331 particles/individual specimen or 28.1 ± 15.4 particles/g tissue. Filaments or fibers accounted for 96.1% of particles, and 73.1% of all filaments were transparent. Out of 40 random filaments from 10 specimens (one had indeterminate spectra patterns), 90% were polycarbonate, 50% were polyamide, and 40% were polypropylene. Conclusion: Our study suggests that microplastics are ubiquitously present in the human colon.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	116-121
Number of pages	6
Journal	JGH Open
Volume	5
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/jgh3.12457
Publication status	Published - Jan 2021

Keywords

cancer
colectomy
human
microplastic

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10.1002/jgh3.12457

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@article{a6ac1b3cb1394872b6626af240c9e450,

title = "Detection of microplastics in human colectomy specimens",

abstract = "Background and Aim: While dietary exposure to microplastics is increasingly recognized, it is unknown if ingested plastics remain within the digestive tract. We aimed to examine human colectomy specimens for microplastics and to report the characteristics as well as polymer composition of the particles. Methods: Colectomy samples were obtained from 11 adults (mean age 45.7, six males) who were residents of Northeastern Peninsular Malaysia. Microplastics were identified following chemical digestion of specimens and subsequent filtration. The samples were then examined for characteristics (abundance, length, shape, and color) and composition of three common polymer types using stereo- and Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) microscopes. Results: Microplastics were detected in all 11 specimens with an average of 331 particles/individual specimen or 28.1 ± 15.4 particles/g tissue. Filaments or fibers accounted for 96.1% of particles, and 73.1% of all filaments were transparent. Out of 40 random filaments from 10 specimens (one had indeterminate spectra patterns), 90% were polycarbonate, 50% were polyamide, and 40% were polypropylene. Conclusion: Our study suggests that microplastics are ubiquitously present in the human colon.",

keywords = "cancer, colectomy, human, microplastic",

author = "Ibrahim, {Yusof Shuaib} and {Tuan Anuar}, Sabiqah and Azmi, {Alyza A.} and {Wan Mohd Khalik}, {Wan Mohd Afiq} and Shumpei Lehata and Hamzah, {Siti Rabaah} and Dzulkiflee Ismail and Ma, {Zheng Feei} and Andee Dzulkarnaen and Zaidi Zakaria and Nazri Mustaffa and {Tuan Sharif}, {Sharifah Emilia} and Lee, {Yeong Yeh}",

note = "Funding Information: The work was supported by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) of Malaysia through the following research grants; FRGS 59457 and FRGS 203.PPSP.6171192. We wish to acknowledge UMT (Centre Lab & INOS) and USM for providing research facilities, and UNESCO/IOC WESTPAC for training as well as related technical support. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 The Authors. JGH Open published by Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.",

year = "2021",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1002/jgh3.12457",

language = "English",

volume = "5",

pages = "116--121",

journal = "JGH Open",

issn = "2397-9070",

number = "1",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Detection of microplastics in human colectomy specimens

AU - Ibrahim, Yusof Shuaib

AU - Tuan Anuar, Sabiqah

AU - Azmi, Alyza A.

AU - Wan Mohd Khalik, Wan Mohd Afiq

AU - Lehata, Shumpei

AU - Hamzah, Siti Rabaah

AU - Ismail, Dzulkiflee

AU - Ma, Zheng Feei

AU - Dzulkarnaen, Andee

AU - Zakaria, Zaidi

AU - Mustaffa, Nazri

AU - Tuan Sharif, Sharifah Emilia

AU - Lee, Yeong Yeh

N1 - Funding Information: The work was supported by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) of Malaysia through the following research grants; FRGS 59457 and FRGS 203.PPSP.6171192. We wish to acknowledge UMT (Centre Lab & INOS) and USM for providing research facilities, and UNESCO/IOC WESTPAC for training as well as related technical support. Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Authors. JGH Open published by Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

PY - 2021/1

Y1 - 2021/1

N2 - Background and Aim: While dietary exposure to microplastics is increasingly recognized, it is unknown if ingested plastics remain within the digestive tract. We aimed to examine human colectomy specimens for microplastics and to report the characteristics as well as polymer composition of the particles. Methods: Colectomy samples were obtained from 11 adults (mean age 45.7, six males) who were residents of Northeastern Peninsular Malaysia. Microplastics were identified following chemical digestion of specimens and subsequent filtration. The samples were then examined for characteristics (abundance, length, shape, and color) and composition of three common polymer types using stereo- and Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) microscopes. Results: Microplastics were detected in all 11 specimens with an average of 331 particles/individual specimen or 28.1 ± 15.4 particles/g tissue. Filaments or fibers accounted for 96.1% of particles, and 73.1% of all filaments were transparent. Out of 40 random filaments from 10 specimens (one had indeterminate spectra patterns), 90% were polycarbonate, 50% were polyamide, and 40% were polypropylene. Conclusion: Our study suggests that microplastics are ubiquitously present in the human colon.

AB - Background and Aim: While dietary exposure to microplastics is increasingly recognized, it is unknown if ingested plastics remain within the digestive tract. We aimed to examine human colectomy specimens for microplastics and to report the characteristics as well as polymer composition of the particles. Methods: Colectomy samples were obtained from 11 adults (mean age 45.7, six males) who were residents of Northeastern Peninsular Malaysia. Microplastics were identified following chemical digestion of specimens and subsequent filtration. The samples were then examined for characteristics (abundance, length, shape, and color) and composition of three common polymer types using stereo- and Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) microscopes. Results: Microplastics were detected in all 11 specimens with an average of 331 particles/individual specimen or 28.1 ± 15.4 particles/g tissue. Filaments or fibers accounted for 96.1% of particles, and 73.1% of all filaments were transparent. Out of 40 random filaments from 10 specimens (one had indeterminate spectra patterns), 90% were polycarbonate, 50% were polyamide, and 40% were polypropylene. Conclusion: Our study suggests that microplastics are ubiquitously present in the human colon.

KW - cancer

KW - colectomy

KW - human

KW - microplastic

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U2 - 10.1002/jgh3.12457

DO - 10.1002/jgh3.12457

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85097192068

SN - 2397-9070

VL - 5

SP - 116

EP - 121

JO - JGH Open

JF - JGH Open

IS - 1

ER -

Detection of microplastics in human colectomy specimens

Abstract

Keywords

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