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Assessment of human Dermal exposure to microPlastics additive chemicals and the risk arising from such exposure using innovative 3D-human skin equivalents

Project description

Skin exposure to microplastics and associated chemicals - cause for concern?

The absorption of toxic materials through the skin can result in serious adverse effects, including cancer. While studies have shown that direct human exposure to microplastics poses risks to human health, more research is needed to understand the extent of human exposure to microplastics via different pathways. The EU-funded DermPlast project will study the dermal absorption of toxic plastic additives (plasticisers and flame retardants). It will combine advanced environmental analytical chemistry with innovative 3D-human skin equivalent models (3D-HSE). Specifically, the project will test whether microplastic additive chemicals can leach out into sweat and be absorbed through human skin to assess if frequent contact with microplastics can have significant health impacts.

Objective

Dermplast is a multidisciplinary project that combines advanced environmental analytical chemistry with innovative 3D-human skin equivalent models (3D-HSE) to study the dermal absorption of toxic plastic additives (e.g. plasticizers and flame retardants) upon skin contact with microplastics (MPs) and assess the risk arising from such exposure.
Recent studies have revealed direct human exposure to MPs externally and internally, confirmed by detection of MPs in human stool. However, very little is known on the extent of human exposure to MPs via different pathways and the risk it poses to human health. While there is little evidence of adverse effects associated directly with exposure to pristine MPs, there is major concern over potential toxicity from released plastic additives (e.g. plasticizers and flame retardants), many of which have been associated with serious adverse effects including cancer.
The main hypothesis that Dermplast tests is that MP additive chemicals can leach out into sweat and be absorbed through human skin; thus frequent contact with MPs can lead to significant body burdens of hazardous chemicals, with consequent adverse health impacts.
This will be achieved using innovative 3D-HSE cultures as sustainable, efficient alternatives to animal/human tissues. The results will be applied to develop an advanced pharmacokinetic exposure model to estimate human uptake of toxic chemicals from dermal contact with MPs and assess the risk against current exposure guidelines and toxic endpoints for these chemicals.
With current research focused mainly on isolation and characterisation of MPs in different matrices (e.g. food, water and air), DermPlast will make substantial advances to the state-of-knowledge by providing novel insight into risk assessment of MPs exposure in humans. This will benefit public health and regulators by providing the essential knowledge base required to inform policies to control human exposure to MPs.

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MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020

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Coordinator

THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 224 933,76
Address
Edgbaston
B15 2TT Birmingham
United Kingdom

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Region
West Midlands (England) West Midlands Birmingham
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 224 933,76
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