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.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences analytical chemistry
- medical and health sciences health sciences public health
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences pollution
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
B15 2TT Birmingham
United Kingdom
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.