OUR YOUNGEST SON HAD his gall bladder recently removed due to continuing problems with gallstones. We were  worried because he is so young, unmarried and away from home, yet facing this health issue. But that is not the worst part. Scientists in a study said that microplastics may spur the formation of gallstones and aggravate the condition.

Research showed microplastics were present in the gallstones of all 16 patients and that younger people (under 50 years old) had significantly higher levels of the toxic substances. In mice, microplastics accelerated gallstone formation.

The study revealed the presence of microplastics in human gallstones, show their potential to aggravate chololithiasis by forming large cholesterol-microplastic heteroaggregates and altering the gut microbiota.

The effects of microplastics on humans and other species are still being researched, and there is uncertainty about the amount of harm they cause. But some research has indicated that they could make us more vulnerable to cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, and even fertility issues.

Another study showed that nanoplastics (pieces smaller than 1 micrometer) could contribute to the development of Parkinson’s disease and dementia, and still another showed microplastics could interfere with the efficacy of antibiotics.

One aspect of the uncertainty is that over 10,000 chemicals are used to make plastic, so the combination of chemicals present in these tiny particles is variable and indeterminate. What you have is an absolute unknown cocktail of chemicals that are on these microplastics.

It has been shown that exposure to microplastics aggravates gallstone formation through the production of  cholesterol-microplastic aggregates and alteration of gut microbiota.

Mushrooms and yeast have been found capable of breaking down plastic, though tha’s not helpful for what’s already inside our bodies. To that end, probiotics may help reduce toxicity and inflammation associated with microplastics in our gastrointestinal systems.

Alas, a study has found that trees may be able to filter microplastics out of the air as well. It has been discovered that forests might be acting as a sink for these airborne microplastics, offering people yet another crucial service.

Researchers found that airborne microplastics strongly adsorb to the epicuticular wax on the leaf surface. In other words, these particles accumulate when they stick to the waxy surface coating of leaves.

Microplastics — tiny plastic particles that result from commercial processes and the breakdown of plastic products — have been found nearly everywhere on Earth, from the deepest parts of the ocean to remote, uninhabited places like Antarctica.

The fact that trees — some species, at least — can trap airborne microplastics means that we need to preserve our forests now more than ever. By Manny Palomar, PhD (EV Mail JAN. 20-26, 2025 issue)