Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Imptox (AN INNOVATIVE ANALYTICAL PLATFORM TO INVESTIGATE THE EFFECT AND TOXICITY OF MICRO AND NANO PLASTICS COMBINED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS ON THE RISK OF ALLERGIC DISEASE IN PRECLINICAL AND CLINICAL)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2021-04-01 al 2022-09-30
Micro- and and nanoplastics (MNPs) have been ubiquitously detected in a broad range of shapes, chemical compositions, sizes and concentrations in the environments of marine water, freshwater, agroecosystems, atmosphere, food, drinking water and biota. Unfortunately, solid data on the prevalence o fMNPs in the environment are still limited due to the analytical and technical challenges of extraction, characterization, and quantification from environmental matrices. Apart from their physical presence as environmental pollutants, concerns have been raised regarding some of the nonpolymeric components of micro and nonoplastics (MNPs), i.e. adsorbed contaminants. MP surfaces do not only accumulate organic pollutants, heavy metals and allergens, but are also colonized by microbes in aquatic habitats (plasticsphere).
There is insufficient scientific data to conclude about the risk that MNP poses to human health. With the most recent finding of MNPs in human blood, breast milk, blood and meat of animals, there is a growing concern of a wider society to provide data on risk assessment. A comprehensive risk assessment is not yet possible due to a lack of data, but the general principles of risk assessment are applicable. Risk can be direct or indirect (via adsorbed contaminants). Imptox will focus on indirect hazard determination via adsorbed contaminants identified as: allergenic proteins, pathogenic organisms (bacteria) and combined hazards (metals, allergens, pathogens, toxins). The risk assessment outcome of Imptox will directly relate the likelihood of hazard occurrence and risk increase in relation to MNP presence (size, shape and type will be investigated).
IMPTOX places a particular emphasis on the investigation of antigenic responses though immune system interaction with MNPs, modulation of human response to food and respiratory allergens (allergenicity and sensitizing potential) and ability of MNPs to bind and attract molecules particularly harmful for humans (i.e. pathogenic microorganisms, metals, toxins).
The following objectives are pursued:
1. Identification and characterization MNPs in relevant food preparation scenarios, in seafood and in sea / freshwater spray aerosol
2. Improvement of analytical methods for MNP quantification and analysis of complex mixtures of contaminants on MNPs (cargo)
3. Characterization of major contaminant components (small molecules, macromolecules, heavy metals, allergens and pathogens) on the MNP surface using model MNPs representative of each exposure scenario
4. Investigation of the impact of model MNPs and MNPs plus cargo with relevant cell types in vitro
5. In vivo investigation of model MNPs and MNPs plus contaminants in healthy mice and models of allergic asthma and food allergy
6. Exposure assessment in children living in urban areas and by the seaside in relation to their food allergy status
7. Improvement of awareness on the impact of MNPs in allergic immune disorders
8. Building a trans-disciplinary network to innovate in the health hazard assessment of MNPs, provide policy-relevant scientific data in support of improved human health hazard and risk assessment and improve communication strategies between science, stakeholders and policy makers
There is insufficient scientific data to conclude about the risk that MNP poses to human health. With the most recent finding of MNPs in human blood, breast milk, blood and meat of animals, there is a growing concern of a wider society to provide data on risk assessment. A comprehensive risk assessment is not yet possible due to a lack of data, but the general principles of risk assessment are applicable. Risk can be direct or indirect (via adsorbed contaminants). Imptox will focus on indirect hazard determination via adsorbed contaminants identified as: allergenic proteins, pathogenic organisms (bacteria) and combined hazards (metals, allergens, pathogens, toxins). The risk assessment outcome of Imptox will directly relate the likelihood of hazard occurrence and risk increase in relation to MNP presence (size, shape and type will be investigated).
IMPTOX places a particular emphasis on the investigation of antigenic responses though immune system interaction with MNPs, modulation of human response to food and respiratory allergens (allergenicity and sensitizing potential) and ability of MNPs to bind and attract molecules particularly harmful for humans (i.e. pathogenic microorganisms, metals, toxins).
The following objectives are pursued:
1. Identification and characterization MNPs in relevant food preparation scenarios, in seafood and in sea / freshwater spray aerosol
2. Improvement of analytical methods for MNP quantification and analysis of complex mixtures of contaminants on MNPs (cargo)
3. Characterization of major contaminant components (small molecules, macromolecules, heavy metals, allergens and pathogens) on the MNP surface using model MNPs representative of each exposure scenario
4. Investigation of the impact of model MNPs and MNPs plus cargo with relevant cell types in vitro
5. In vivo investigation of model MNPs and MNPs plus contaminants in healthy mice and models of allergic asthma and food allergy
6. Exposure assessment in children living in urban areas and by the seaside in relation to their food allergy status
7. Improvement of awareness on the impact of MNPs in allergic immune disorders
8. Building a trans-disciplinary network to innovate in the health hazard assessment of MNPs, provide policy-relevant scientific data in support of improved human health hazard and risk assessment and improve communication strategies between science, stakeholders and policy makers
IMPTOX project is focused on health effects of micro and nanoplastics, with a focus of allergies and asthma, as well as role of contaminants and MNPs/contaminants interplay. The project is focused on two exposure routes (inhalation and ingestion). The materials selecte are in house produced PET and PP (pristine) that will be tested in in vitro and in vivo experiments. Projectsputs a lot of emphasis on innovative methods development for MNPs tracking and quantification, as well as improvement of already existing methodology for MNP characterization.
In the first implementation period, major achievements were high quality in house materials produced for in vitro and in vivo studies, methods developed for their characterization; production of well characterized protein material for binding and digestibility studies, development of protocols suitable for digestion of biological material prior microFTIR characterization, improvement of quantification methods for seafood allergens, innovative labelling method for NPs tracking, commencing of the large environmental studies on the interplay of MPs and environmental pathogens and launching of the registrated clinical trial on exposure assessment in pediatric population of allergic children. The project has established a functional network and provided several dissemination events open to the public. All deliverables and milestones planned for the first implementation period have been achieved.
In the first implementation period, major achievements were high quality in house materials produced for in vitro and in vivo studies, methods developed for their characterization; production of well characterized protein material for binding and digestibility studies, development of protocols suitable for digestion of biological material prior microFTIR characterization, improvement of quantification methods for seafood allergens, innovative labelling method for NPs tracking, commencing of the large environmental studies on the interplay of MPs and environmental pathogens and launching of the registrated clinical trial on exposure assessment in pediatric population of allergic children. The project has established a functional network and provided several dissemination events open to the public. All deliverables and milestones planned for the first implementation period have been achieved.
Allergy is the most common chronic disease in Europe. More than 150 million Europeans suffer from at least one chronic form of allergy, while 20% live with a severely debilitating allergic disease. The prevalence of allergic disease is rising. Current predictions estimate that by 2025 half of the entire EU population will be affected. It is unknown whether increasing MNP levels in the environment are related to the rise in prevalence of allergic disease in Europe. Scientific endeavors that contribute to a better understanding of factors influencing allergic disease and to a reduction in prevalence will have an immense impact on societal and economic health in Europe.
IMPTOX will contribute social, health and environmental impacts by 1) improving the understanding of MNP exposure via the ingestion and inhalation route and allergenic disease response; 2) by providing three scenarios of allergic disease risk at near and long future time horizons; 3) by providing useful information for response policies at national and European level; 4) by increasing awareness of allergic disease risk in response to increasing environmental MNP burdens; 5) by improving communication strategies between science and stakeholder communities; and 6) by providing policy-relevant guidance aimed at targeting measures to reduce sources of MNP pollutants. The steps we chose to make an impact in the field and public at large revolve around a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of environmental MNP levels on allergic disease in vulnerable populations because this will provide new opportunities to strategize about environmental policy in Europe. An intense dialogue with stakeholders and our consortium will allow for the exchange of ideas and help guide policy. The interaction between clinical and basic biological research and environmental scientists will ensure that the expected impacts are brought about. The impact on enhancement of knowledge on MNP exposure – health interactions will be achieved through extensive publications of the IMPTOX research results in peer reviewed high-quality scientific journals.
IMPTOX will contribute social, health and environmental impacts by 1) improving the understanding of MNP exposure via the ingestion and inhalation route and allergenic disease response; 2) by providing three scenarios of allergic disease risk at near and long future time horizons; 3) by providing useful information for response policies at national and European level; 4) by increasing awareness of allergic disease risk in response to increasing environmental MNP burdens; 5) by improving communication strategies between science and stakeholder communities; and 6) by providing policy-relevant guidance aimed at targeting measures to reduce sources of MNP pollutants. The steps we chose to make an impact in the field and public at large revolve around a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of environmental MNP levels on allergic disease in vulnerable populations because this will provide new opportunities to strategize about environmental policy in Europe. An intense dialogue with stakeholders and our consortium will allow for the exchange of ideas and help guide policy. The interaction between clinical and basic biological research and environmental scientists will ensure that the expected impacts are brought about. The impact on enhancement of knowledge on MNP exposure – health interactions will be achieved through extensive publications of the IMPTOX research results in peer reviewed high-quality scientific journals.