RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Inhalable textile microplastic fibers impair lung repair
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.01.25.428144
DO 10.1101/2021.01.25.428144
A1 F. van Dijk
A1 S. Song
A1 G.W.A van Eck
A1 X. Wu
A1 I.S.T. Bos
A1 D.H.A. Boom
A1 I.M. Kooter
A1 D.C.J. Spierings
A1 R. Wardenaar
A1 M. Cole
A1 A. Salvati
A1 R. Gosens
A1 B.N. Melgert
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/03/09/2021.01.25.428144.abstract
AB Synthetic textiles shed fibers that accumulate indoors and this results in continuous exposure when indoors. High exposure to microplastic fibers in nylon flock workers has been linked to the development of airway and interstitial lung disease, but the exact health effects of microplastic fibers on the lungs are unknown. Here we determined effects of polyester and nylon textile microplastic fibers on airway and alveolar epithelial cells using human and murine lung organoids. We observed that particularly nylon microfibers had a negative impact on the growth and development of airway organoids. We demonstrated that this effect was mediated by components leaking from nylon. Moreover, our data suggested that microplastic textile fibers may especially harm the developing airways or airways undergoing repair. Our results call for a need to assess exposure and inhalation levels in indoor environments to accurately determine the actual risk of these fibers to human health.Teaser Airborne fibers shed from synthetic textiles, in particular nylon, can inhibit repair of the cells coating the airwaysCompeting Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.