Scientists have found a bacteria capable of removing nanoplastics in kimchi

Lactic acid bacteria isolated from kimchi retained the ability to bind nanoplastics particles under conditions that mimic human intestines. In an experiment on mice, its use more than doubled the amount of nanoplastics found in feces. This was reported by Science Daily on September 17, citing a study by South Korean scientists.

Nanoplastics are called plastic particles smaller than 1 micron in size, which are formed when larger plastic materials are destroyed. They can enter the body with food and drinking water. Due to their small size, such particles are able to penetrate biological barriers, but their impact on human health and ways to reduce their accumulation are still being studied.

Experts from the World Kimchi Institute have studied the lactic acid bacterium Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656, isolated from a traditional Korean fermented product. Scientists have tested how effectively the microorganism adsorbs, that is, retains polystyrene nanoparticles on its surface.

Under standard laboratory conditions, the bacterium CBA3656 bound 87% of the nanoplastics. This turned out to be comparable with the result of the control strain Latil Lactobacillus sakei CBA3608, which was 85% effective.

The difference between the bacteria became noticeable in an environment that mimics human intestinal conditions. The ability of the control strain to bind particles decreased to 3%, while the kimchi bacterium retained its effectiveness at 57%. According to the researchers, this indicates its stability in the conditions of the gastrointestinal tract.

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The next stage of the study was conducted on sterile laboratory mice, whose intestines were not initially inhabited by microorganisms. The animals were injected with the bacterium CBA3656, after which the scientists measured the amount of nanoplastics excreted from the body.

In males and females treated with the bacterium, the content of particles in the feces was more than twice as high as in animals from the control group. It is assumed that the microorganism retained the nanoplastics in the intestine and promoted its elimination naturally.

The authors believe that dietary lactic acid bacteria can potentially be used to reduce the accumulation of nanoplastics in the gastrointestinal tract. However, the study does not prove that eating regular kimchi helps to remove nanoplastics from the human body. The scientists studied a specific isolated strain of the bacterium, and the experiments were carried out in laboratory conditions and on mice. Separate clinical studies will be required to confirm the effect in humans.

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