Researchers at Bond University (Australia) investigated the link between microplastics and bladder cancer after finding numerous particles in the urinary tracts of several patients. Their study was published this summer in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology.
By analyzing six previous studies, they discovered microplastics in 54% of urine samples, 70% of kidney samples, and 68% of bladder cancer cases. However, a causal link remained to be proven.
The researchers then examined a dozen studies on the effects of plastic particles on the urinary tract, demonstrating their toxicity, their ability to cause inflammation, and their capacity to reduce cell lifespan. Other disruptions were also observed.
The Australian researchers are therefore raising awareness of the potential role of microplastics in cancer and calling for a reduction in this pollution, which also affects the brain, placenta, and testicular tissues. They believe their study contradicts the World Health Organization (WHO), which in 2019 stated that no data suggested health problems linked to exposure to microplastics through drinking water.
 Sophie de Duiéry
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14/10/2024 | 
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