Researchers have identified a dietary supplement made from heat-killed bacteria that may help remove microplastics from the human body [1].
This development addresses the growing concern over plastic accumulation in human tissues. By preventing these particles from entering cells, the supplement could reduce the long-term biological impact of environmental plastic pollution [1].
The supplement, named Qi601, utilizes bacteria that have been killed through heat treatment [1, 2]. These dead bacterial cells possess rough surfaces that act as magnets for microplastic particles [1]. When ingested, the supplement binds to the plastics within the gastrointestinal tract [2].
This binding process is designed to facilitate the removal of the particles from the body [1]. By trapping the microplastics on the surface of the bacteria, the supplement prevents the particles from being absorbed into the body's cells [1]. The goal is to ensure the plastics are expelled through the digestive system, rather than migrating into other organs [1, 2].
The mechanism relies on the physical attraction between the rough texture of the Qi601 bacteria and the microplastic debris [1]. This approach focuses on the gut as the primary point of intervention to stop the spread of plastics throughout the system [2].
“The supplement, named Qi601, utilizes bacteria that have been killed through heat treatment.”
The emergence of Qi601 represents a shift toward biological mitigation of plastic pollution. While most efforts focus on reducing plastic production, this approach seeks to treat the existing contamination within the human body. If proven effective in humans, it could provide a scalable method to lower the systemic load of microplastics, though it does not address the root cause of environmental contamination.
