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Leading cancer scientist Lukas Kenner has warned that plastic can help cancer become more aggressive in humans.
New research from Professor Lukas Kenner, cancer researcher and Deputy Director of the Clinical Institute for Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, revealed that cancer cells spread at an accelerated rate after contact with microplastics in cancer cells.
While more testing is needed, Kenner believes that if plastics play a key role in early-onset cancer, the worst is yet to come as plastic production and accumulation in the environment continue to increase. Researchers at the University of Vienna also found that plastic particles were transferred between cells during cell division and remained present for prolonged periods of time. Plastic Soup Foundation and Resilient Foundation, two environmental charities based in the Netherlands, have teamed up to create a short documentary about Prof. Kenner and his research findings. In a discussion with the campaigners, Kenner described how the continued breakdown of plastic in the environment has created an “avalanche of plastic coming towards us.”
He explained that unborn children are at the greatest risk from the health impacts of plastic, with microplastics found in the placenta being transferred to embryos.
The Austrian researcher stated:
“The findings scare me, and I hope they scare other people too.”
Globally, 500 million tonnes of plastic were produced in 2023, including synthetic fast fashion, which contains over 16,000 known chemical ingredients, many of which are associated with endocrine disruption, decreased fertility, and heart disease. The gastrointestinal tract, studied by the Austrian researchers, serves as the primary entry point for daily exposure to micro- and nanoplastics.
Plastic particles, 0.25 μm in size, were found to increase the propensity for cell migration, raising concerns about potential pro-metastatic effects. During cell division, researchers observed no signs of elimination of plastic particles from the cells, indicating that even short-term exposure to 0.25 μm particles significantly amplified cell migration. These observations underscore the potential of micro- and nanoplastics as hidden catalysts for tumor progression, particularly through enhancing cell migration and potentially fueling metastasis.
The University of Vienna is now investigating the extent to which plastic particles promote the formation of tumors throughout the body. This report comes ahead of the fourth round of negotiations for a UN Global Plastics Treaty in Ottawa, Canada (23rd – 29th).
The Plastic Health Council, a group of scientists and campaigners co-founded by Plastic Soup Foundation and newly endorsed by the Resilient Foundation, is advocating for human health to be a key focus in the negotiations and any future treaty.
The council argues that a treaty led by science must:
Lukas Kenner, Cancer Researcher and Pathologist at the University of Vienna, stated:
“The study’s findings indicate that plastic not only resides in tumor cells but also accelerates the migration of these cells. This is being investigated further, but the evidence we have already on plastic’s health impact is startling and requires the immediate attention of policymakers globally.
This research scares me, and I hope it scares others too. Governments and businesses must fund research into the impact of plastic on human health and work to eradicate this dangerous pollutant from our daily lives.”
Maria Westerbos, Founder of Plastic Soup Foundation and Co-Founder of Plastic Health Council, added:
“There should be no doubt that plastic is killing us in the long term. We’ve seen study after study showing that we must work towards a future free from toxic plastic immediately.
The Global Plastics Treaty represents a milestone moment in the fight against the plastics crisis. But real change will only happen if policymakers stop burying their heads in the sand and listen to the science.”
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