Alterations of gut and oral microbiota in the individuals consuming take-away food in disposable plastic containers

Abstract

Microplastics (MP) and nanoplastics (NP) exist in the disposable plastic take-away containers. This study aims to determine the gut and oral microbiota alterations in the individuals frequently and occasionally consuming take-away food in disposable plastic containers (TFDPC), and explore the effect of micro/nanoplastics (MNP) reduction on gut microbiota in mice. TFDPC consumption are associated with greater presences of gastrointestinal dysfunction and cough. Both occasional and frequent consumers have altered gut and oral microbiota, and their gut diversity and evenness are greater than those of non-TFDPC consuming cohort. Multiple gut and oral bacteria are associated with TFDPC consumers, among which intestinal Collinsella and oral Thiobacillus are most associated with the frequent consumers, while intestinal Faecalibacterium is most associated with the occasional consumers. Although some gut bacteria associated with the mice treated with 500 µg NP and 500 µg MP are decreased in the mice treated with 200 µg NP, the gut microbiota of the three MNP groups are all different from the control group. This study demonstrates that TFDPC induces gut and oral microbiota alterations in the consumers, and partial reduction of the size and amount of MNP cannot rectify the MNP-induced gut microbial dysbiosis.