Microplastics and human gut health

Presentation by Professor Mayur Garg (Northern Health)

Abstract

Microplastics are ubiquitous in our environment, with evidence to date suggesting that humans ingest microplastics as part of our diet on a daily basis. The incidence and prevalence of multiple gastrointestinal illnesses has risen dramatically over the past 50 years, especially inflammatory bowel disease, disorders of gut-brain interaction, and gastrointestinal cancers. This presentation will discuss the potential link between microplastics and gut health, including putative effects on microbiota, gut immunology and inflammation.