Decoding Exposure and Health Risks: Analyzing the Release of Nano- and Micro-Plastics from Plastic Food Containers into Water and Beverages

This project tackles a crucial public health concern: human exposure to nano- and microplastics (NMPs) released directly from everyday plastic food containers, specifically reusable plastic cups, single-use water and soft drink bottles, and takeaway coffee cups, made from four major polymer types, i.e., Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polyethylene (PE), and Polylactic acid (PLA). Growing evidence suggests that microwaving, high-temperature storage, and other common uses of plastic containers can release billions of microplastics and trillions of nanoplastics into beverages. This study aims to quantify these releases and assess their potential health risks. The research design includes three primary aims: • Aim 1 will measure the release of NMPs from plastic containers under a variety of real-life conditions, generating critical data on NMP concentration and particle characteristics in common use scenarios. This aim will reveal how polymer properties and usage conditions influence release quantities. • Aim 2 will use in vitro and in vivo models to evaluate the biological effects of NMP ingestion on human health, specifically looking at impacts such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and toxicity to cells and organs. This aim will clarify how non-uniform particle shapes and sizes impact cellular and organ responses, with potential biodistribution variations across tissues. • Aim 3 will evaluate how everyday behaviors—such as microwaving, storing, and drinking from plastic containers—affect NMP exposure, establish dose-response relationships for different plastic materials, and assess health risks linked to long-term NMP exposure from water and beverage consumption. This project is innovative in its approach to assessing human exposure to NMPs released directly from plastic food containers, a previously underexplored pathway. By using an advanced laser-based technique to generate NMPs that reflect real-world variability in particle size and shape, the study aims to produce more accurate data on NMP release, health impacts on cell toxicity and organ function, and consumer behaviors that increase exposure. The outcomes will guide practical recommendations for manufacturers and consumers to reduce health risks associated with NMP ingestion from everyday plastic use. Project Number: 1R01ES037008-01A1 | Fiscal Year: 2025 | NIH Institute/Center: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) | Principal Investigator: Yusong Li (+2 co-PIs) | Institution: UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN, LINCOLN, NE | Award Amount: $1,479,178 | Activity Code: R01 | Study Section: Environmental Determinants of Disease Study Section [EDD] View on NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11227887