Microplastics — defined as plastic particles under 0.2 inches – have been discovered most recently in human lungs and brains, as well as in our livers, kidneys, and testes. They have so far been associated with some cancers, respiratory diseases, and pregnancy and birth complications.
Now researchers are adding another ill effect to the persistent particles — boosting antibiotic resistance, according to a study recently published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
Antibiotic Resistance Concerns
Laboratory experiments conducted by a team of Boston University researchers demonstrated that bacteria exposed to microplastics became resistant to multiple types of antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance — most often associated with over-prescription and unnecessary use of antibiotics — has been a public health concern for decades.
