A recent study involving roundworms has revealed that a widely used plastic component can damage DNA strands, leading to egg cells having an incorrect number of chromosomes. The research, led by Monica Colaiácovo from Harvard Medical School, was published on October 24 in the journal PLOS Genetics.
Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) is a chemical that enhances the flexibility and strength of plastics and is present in a variety of consumer items, such as food packaging, personal care products, and toys for children. Although earlier studies have indicated that BBP disrupts hormonal functions and impacts human reproduction and development, the specific mechanisms of its reproductive effects have not been fully understood.
In this latest research, scientists applied different doses of BBP to the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and investigated any abnormal changes in the egg cells. They discovered that at concentrations comparable to those found in humans, BBP disrupts the distribution of newly copied chromosomes into the sex cells. This chemical induces oxidative stress and causes breaks in DNA strands, which can lead to cell death and egg cells that contain the wrong number of chromosomes.
The findings suggest that exposure to BBP modifies gene expression, which severely damages the DNA and ultimately reduces the quality of the egg cells, resulting in abnormal chromosomes. The study also found that C. elegans processes BBP similarly to mammals and is affected by exposure levels akin to those seen in humans. This points to C. elegans being a suitable model for understanding how BBP impacts human health. The study highlights the harmful effects of this commonly used plastic ingredient on animal reproduction.
The authors conclude: “By examining the female germline in the nematode C. elegans, our research indicates that exposure levels within the range found in human serum and urine disrupt gene expression, connecting increased oxidative stress in the germline to compromised genomic integrity and mistakes in meiotic chromosome segregation.”
