A laboratory study found that mice given a lactic-acid bacterium from kimchi excreted two times as many microplastics as untreated mice [1].
This finding highlights a potential biological mechanism for removing synthetic pollutants from the body, but it also sparks a debate over whether dietary interventions can address the systemic nature of global plastic pollution.
Researchers focused on a specific bacterium commonly found in kimchi to test if it could assist the body in eliminating microplastics [1]. The results indicated a significant increase in the amount of plastic leaving the body of the test subjects [1]. Specifically, the mice receiving the bacterium excreted two times the amount of microplastics compared to the control group [1].
Despite these results, analysts suggest that the discovery does not translate to a viable public health strategy. A Bloomberg Opinion writer said that kimchi cannot save the population from microplastics and is not a solution to the global problem [2]. The argument centers on the scale of the crisis—where the ingestion of plastics is constant and widespread—making a fermented food intervention insufficient.
While the biological interaction between the bacteria and the plastics showed promise in a controlled environment, the transition from mouse models to human application remains unproven. The disparity between a laboratory success and a global environmental solution remains a central point of contention among commentators [2].
“Mice given the kimchi bacterium excreted twice the amount of microplastics”
The study demonstrates a potential biological pathway for microplastic excretion, but it underscores the gap between individual health interventions and environmental policy. While probiotic-like bacteria may offer some internal mitigation, they do not reduce the external presence of plastics in the food chain or water supply.
