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Microplastic-associated gut microbial profile and antibiotic resistance in preschool children: a multicentre

Xinyuan Liu1, Hua Cai2, Long Zhao3

  • 1School of Public Health, Institute of Nutrition, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Quzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Quzhou, China.

Ebiomedicine
|February 19, 2026
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Microplastic (MP) exposure in preschoolers may alter gut bacteria and functions, potentially increasing antibiotic resistance. Further research is needed to understand these risks in younger populations.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Microbiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive environmental contaminants found in ecosystems and the human body.
  • Human exposure levels and impacts, particularly on the gut microbiota, remain largely unquantified.
  • MPs are known vectors for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), but their role in ARG abundance is underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate microplastic exposure in preschoolers.
  • To assess the association between microplastic exposure and the human gut microbiota composition and function.
  • To explore the relationship between microplastic presence and antibiotic resistance genes in fecal samples.

Main Methods:

  • A multicentre cross-sectional study involving 335 fecal samples from preschoolers in China (October 2022 - March 2023).
  • Microplastic analysis using Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC/MS).
  • Gut microbiota profiling via 16S rRNA and metagenomic sequencing.

Main Results:

  • Eight types of MPs were detected, with a median concentration of 212.1 μg/g dw.
  • MP presence was associated with alterations in gut microbiota composition and enrichment of 62 metabolic pathways.
  • Total plastic concentration correlated with species and ARG abundance, though not linked to specific plastic polymers.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides initial data on MP exposure in preschoolers, suggesting potential disruption of gut bacterial communities and functions.
  • Findings raise concerns about adverse health effects, including increased risks of antibiotic resistance, especially in young children.
  • Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms and long-term consequences of MP exposure on human gut health.
Keywords:
Gut microbiotaHigh-throughput sequencingMicroplasticsPreschoolerPy-GC/MS

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