Topic: Environment
Scientists at WiKim discovered that a type of bacteria found in kimchi can bind to tiny plastic particles called nanoplastics and help remove them from our bodies. This breakthrough could lead to new ways to combat the growing problem of plastic pollution.
The World Institute of Kimchi, a government-funded research institute in South Korea, announced that a lactic acid bacterium isolated from kimchi can help promote the removal of nanoplastics from the body by binding to them in the intestine. Nanoplastics are ultrafine plastic particles measuring less than 1 micrometer (μm) that are generated during the degradation of larger plastic materials.
These tiny particles can enter our bodies through food and drinking water, and due to their extremely small size, they may cross the intestinal barrier and accumulate in organs such as the kidneys and brain. However, biological strategies to reduce nanoplastic accumulation in the gastrointestinal tract remain at an early stage of research.
A research team led by Drs. Se Hee Lee and Tae Woong Whon at WiKim investigated the adsorption capacity of a kimchi-derived lactic acid bacterium, Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656, against polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs). Under standard laboratory conditions, strain CBA3656 showed a high adsorption efficiency of 87%, comparable to that of the reference strain Latilactobacillus sakei CBA3608 (85%). However, a notable difference was observed under simulated human intestinal conditions.
While the adsorption rate of strain CBA3608 decreased sharply to 3%, strain CBA3656 maintained a substantially higher adsorption level of 57%. These results indicate that the kimchi-derived strain can stably bind nanoplastics even in environments resembling the human intestinal tract.
Why It Matters
This breakthrough is important because plastic pollution is not only harming our environment, but also our health. If we can find ways to remove these tiny plastic particles from our bodies, it could lead to a significant reduction in the harm caused by plastic pollution.
Key Facts
- The World Institute of Kimchi announced that a lactic acid bacterium isolated from kimchi can help promote the removal of nanoplastics from the body by binding to them in the intestine.
- Nanoplastics are ultrafine plastic particles measuring less than 1 micrometer (μm) that are generated during the degradation of larger plastic materials.
- A research team led by Drs. Se Hee Lee and Tae Woong Whon at WiKim investigated the adsorption capacity of a kimchi-derived lactic acid bacterium, Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656, against polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs).
- Under simulated human intestinal conditions, strain CBA3656 maintained a substantially higher adsorption level of 57% compared to the reference strain Latilactobacillus sakei CBA3608.
- The study suggests that microorganisms derived from traditional fermented foods could represent a new biological approach to address the emerging challenge of plastic pollution.
Key Terms
- Nanoplastics
- Tiny plastic particles measuring less than 1 micrometer (μm) generated during the degradation of larger plastic materials
- Lactic acid bacterium
- A type of beneficial bacteria that produces lactic acid and can help remove nanoplastics from the body
Implications
This breakthrough is important because plastic pollution is not only harming our environment, but also our health. If we can find ways to remove these tiny plastic particles from our bodies, it could lead to a significant reduction in the harm caused by plastic pollution.
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