Plastics and microplastics are all around us. They appeared in the 1950s and have become part of our everyday reality. We build with plastic, wear it, transport in it, and wrap our food in it. However, more and more questions are arising about this material with many practical properties. Microplastics are found practically everywhere; in water, soil, and air. But how do microplastics actually interact with the human body? What impact do they have on our environment and our health? Is it true that they penetrate places like the brain or placenta? And if so, what does that actually mean? Just like elsewhere in the world, these and many other questions related to plastics occupy the minds of many scientists in the Czech Republic, including one directly at the RECETOX center.Ondřej Adamovský is an environmental toxicologist who has long been involved in the issue of plastics and microplastics at the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/companies/19">RECETOX center</a>. Although his research scope is broader, he is currently focusing primarily on developing new methods within the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/companies/36">CEITEC VUT</a>, University of Ljubljana, and Technical University of Vienna <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://planterastics.fkkt.uni-lj.si/plastsensing/">consortium</a> to unequivocally prove the presence of microplastics in the human body and organisms. Despite the hundreds of articles published annually warning about microplastics, a&nbsp;serious method to truly prove their presence in the human body is still lacking.“Scientific articles that are now widely appearing and reporting that microplastics have been found in lungs, placenta, brain, or penises raise the question of how they could have gotten there. Unlike chemical substances, which are soluble, microplastics are solid particles, and those above a&nbsp;certain size cannot pass through biological barriers and move within the body. From this perspective, our current project is very beneficial because the newly developed methods for detecting microplastics will provide very precise information about what sizes and types of microplastics are capable of migrating within the human body,” explains Ondřej Adamovský.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/RECETOX_Mikroplasty_jako_castice_jsou_stale_otevrene_tema_nicmene_rizika_spojena_s_jejich_aditivy_zname_rika_environmentalni_toxikolog_Ondrej_Adamovsky_8a41ab5c09.jpg" alt="RECETOX: Microplastics as particles are still an open topic, but the risks associated with their additives are known, says environmental toxicologist Ondřej Adamovský" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_RECETOX_Mikroplasty_jako_castice_jsou_stale_otevrene_tema_nicmene_rizika_spojena_s_jejich_aditivy_zname_rika_environmentalni_toxikolog_Ondrej_Adamovsky_8a41ab5c09.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="1200" height="800">The ability of particles to migrate through tissues raises the most questions. While the conclusions of scientific articles pointing out the findings of microplastics in the lungs, where microplastics can get, for example, by inhalation from the surrounding environment, are quite logical, the findings of microplastics in internal organs (brain, penises, or placentas) require a&nbsp;great deal of scientific scrutiny.“These studies are scientifically questionable and need to be read in detail. Specifically, in a&nbsp;recent, media-friendly study that found microplastics in penis biopsies, it is stated that microplastics in the tissue can be one hundred to five hundred micrometers in size, which is basically the size of a&nbsp;grain of sand. The claim that solid particles of this size could pass through the digestive tract, overcome biological barriers into the blood, and accumulate somewhere is absolutely excluded and scientifically questionable,” says Adamovský.How is this possible then? The most likely explanation for the presence of microplastics in the samples is secondary contamination. Given that microplastics are all around us, they most likely got into the samples simply during handling. For example, the mentioned research on the presence of microplastics in various human organs takes place in several locations, from the operating room, the sample processing site, to the place where the analyses are performed. Even though these are always clean rooms, microplastics are ubiquitous, and the fact that microplastics are also part of dust contributes to contamination.“In the case of the study with placentas, the mechanism of unintended contamination may be similar. The placenta is delivered, then taken somewhere, samples are cut from it, and if proper procedural steps and controls are not in place, it is impossible to say that the plastic comes directly from the organ and did not get into the sample later,” explains Adamovský.The new method that the scientist is now working on with a&nbsp;team of other researchers is instead based on the use of computer tomography, which works with intact tissues. Therefore, it is not necessary to disrupt or interfere with them in any way for their examination, thus minimizing the risk of secondary contamination. Based on in vivo models, scientists will look at what microplastics, what sizes, and in what places can be deposited in the organism. The larger vision is then to use human samples and analyze microplastics in tissues through biopsy. According to Adamovský, only then will we have truly indisputable proof that microplastics can move across tissues and subsequently accumulate in them.“Another problem with articles and reports is that despite the enormous amount of histopathological observations made since the 1950s, doctors have not found microplastics anywhere. Ten, twenty, fifty, or one hundred micrometers, these are large plastics visible under a&nbsp;microscope. However, no one has ever recorded them during observations, which is strange. This fact suggests that the articles are not well done, and until someone provides a&nbsp;methodology, like the one we are currently working on, all other research is very easily questionable,” claims Adamovský.Although it seems there is not much to worry about yet, monitoring the risks associated with microplastics is more than essential. If their presence in human tissues is indeed proven, it will be necessary to further investigate their effects on human health. The issue of plastics also has another dimension, which is their chemical composition.“It can be said that microplastics as particles are still an open and researched topic, but plastic additives, i.e., the chemical substances contained in them, have been tested for a long time, and their risks are known. For example, the group of phthalates1, which we also studied here at RECETOX, was found to be so dangerous that they were globally banned in 2022,” adds Adamovský.Fortunately, legislation in the context of microplastics is progressing. Over the past five years, the European Union has issued regulations banning the use of microplastics in cosmetic products or consumer products, which will help reduce their emissions into the environment2.“Microplastics have already disappeared, for example, from shampoos, where they were added as exfoliants, and certain types of plastics were also used in mascaras or cosmetic fillers. Compared to the United States, this measure came later, but it is more thorough, as it will also apply to so-called leave-on cosmetics, such as sunscreens or cleansing facial gels, which is not the case in America,” explains Adamovský.<div style="text-align:left;"><div><div><div><div id="cib-chat-main"><div><div aria-description="" aria-label="Sent by Copilot: Here is the translation:

**Even smaller particles, but an even bigger problem, are nanoplastics. These plastic particles are so small that no visual technique can capture them. Therefore, their study is challenging, and very little is known about nanoplastics so far.**

**&quot;Detection methods are very poor, they basically do not exist. So far, we know that nanoplastics, unlike microplastics, can pass through biological barriers, but the question is what they can cause. There are initial studies showing that nanoplastics can induce pro-inflammatory states,&quot; warns Adamovský.**

**The overarching root problem of microplastics and nanoplastics is, first and foremost, plastics themselves. As the name suggests, microplastics are formed during their degradation. In practice, these particles get into soils, for example, by the breakdown of protective plastic films used to protect agricultural areas against weeds or water evaporation. Another significant area where microplastics are released through degradation is food production and packaging.**

**&quot;Ninety percent of all packaging materials are plastics. It doesn't matter whether we take yogurt, meat, or vegetables, if they are in plastic packaging, microplastics will also be present in them. However, they do not only get into them from the packaging. The food production process almost always involves a&nbsp;phase where plastic is used, whether it is plastic pipes, containers, or another part of the production. Microplastics thus penetrate products primarily during production, and so we find them even in beverages in glass bottles, aluminum packaging, salt, oils, or honey. There is no large-scale production that can do without the use of plastic components,&quot; describes Adamovský.**

If you need any further assistance, feel free to ask! 😊"><div><div>Even smaller particles, but an even bigger problem, are nanoplastics. These plastic particles are so small that no visual technique can capture them. Therefore, their study is challenging, and very little is known about nanoplastics so far.“Detection methods are very poor, they basically do not exist. So far, we know that nanoplastics, unlike microplastics, can pass through biological barriers, but the question is what they can cause. There are initial studies showing that nanoplastics can induce pro-inflammatory states,” warns Adamovský.The overarching root problem of microplastics and nanoplastics is, first and foremost, plastics themselves. As the name suggests, microplastics are formed during their degradation. In practice, these particles get into soils, for example, by the breakdown of protective plastic films used to protect agricultural areas against weeds or water evaporation. Another significant area where microplastics are released through degradation is food production and packaging.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/RECETOX_Ondrej_Adamovsky_CELSPAC_Setkani_generaci_na_Festivalu_vedy_de415019b9.jpg" alt="RECETOX: Ondřej Adamovský (CELSPAC Meeting of generations at the Science Festival)" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_RECETOX_Ondrej_Adamovsky_CELSPAC_Setkani_generaci_na_Festivalu_vedy_de415019b9.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="1500" height="1001">“Ninety percent of all packaging materials are plastics. It doesn’t matter whether we take yogurt, meat, or vegetables, if they are in plastic packaging, microplastics will also be present in them. However, they do not only get into them from the packaging. The food production process almost always involves a&nbsp;phase where plastic is used, whether it is plastic pipes, containers, or another part of the production. Microplastics thus penetrate products primarily during production, and so we find them even in beverages in glass bottles, aluminum packaging, salt, oils, or honey. There is no large-scale production that can do without the use of plastic components,” describes Adamovský.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align:left;"><div>For plastics in their versatile use today, there is no sufficient alternative. However, there are ways to at least mitigate their impact. One proposed measure is the unification of the allowed composition of plastics. This would allow plastics to be returned to the economic cycle, i.e., recycled.“Currently, each plastic is completely different and full of various additives. You can’t even combine two plastic cups from different brands; it’s an unidentifiable mix used only by specific manufacturers. This is why plastic packaging is recycled into building materials3, but this type of product is permanent and does not return to the circular economy,” explains Adamovský.The Czech Republic is also looking for ways to improve the dire situation with plastics. A&nbsp;team of researchers, with whom Ondřej Adamovský is now seeking new methods for detecting microplastics, has commented on the Global Plastics Treaty for the Ministry of the Environment. This treaty should help with the current one-way flow of plastics that end up in waste without the possibility of recycling.“Currently, mainly PET bottles are recycled because they have no additives; they are more or less the same. This is a&nbsp;big exception; most other plastics are usually burned. This treaty aims to ensure that the vast majority of plastics somehow return to circulation and become part of the circular economy. We can contribute to treaties related to plastics with our expertise, specifically an overview of the bioactivities of chemicals contained in plastics,” explains Adamovský.What is currently missing at the level of political negotiations in the Czech Republic is a&nbsp;foundation or association that would create a&nbsp;counterbalance to the industry in discussions about national implementations. An example of such good practice could be the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.foodpackagingforum.org/">Food Packaging Forum.</a></div></div><div><div><div>“The Food Packaging Forum is an entity that the government can turn to for verifying information or consulting on planned measures. They are capable of gathering scientific evidence or data that is publicly available and drawing clear and substantiated conclusions from it. Global treaties are generally very broad, and their implementation is entirely up to the governments of individual states. This kind of support is currently missing in the Czech Republic, and that is a&nbsp;shame,” summarizes Adamovský.</div></div></div></div>

Microplastics as particles are still an open topic, but the risks associated with their additives are known, says environmental toxicologist Ondřej Adamovský

On 14–15 April 2025, the Faculty of Pharmacy of Charles University in Hradec Králové hosted the First Annual International Conference of the project New Technologies for Translational Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences (NETPHARM), co-funded by the Jan Amos Komenský Operational Programme (OP JAK). The project aims to bridge cutting-edge pharmaceutical research with clinical practice and the application sphere, advancing the development of new therapeutic approaches, (nano)formulations, and advanced drug delivery systems.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/FF_UK_Uspesne_setkani_spickovych_vedcu_Prvni_vyrocni_mezinarodni_konference_projektu_NETPHARM_3_b6c493b2d0.jpg" alt="FF UK/Ing. Jan Škop/Mgr. Martina Kopecká Jurčeková: Successful Gathering of Leading Scientists: The First Annual International NETPHARM Conference" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_FF_UK_Uspesne_setkani_spickovych_vedcu_Prvni_vyrocni_mezinarodni_konference_projektu_NETPHARM_3_b6c493b2d0.jpg 208w," sizes="100vw" width="1200" height="900">The conference was opened with an introductory speech by the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy of Charles University, Assoc. Prof. Jaroslav Roh, followed by an overview of the NETPHARM project, which was presented by the research project manager Prof. Petr Pávek.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/FF_UK_Successful_Gathering_of_Leading_Scientists_The_First_Annual_International_NETPHARM_Conference_298129dde1.jpg" alt="FF UK/Ing. Jan Škop/Mgr. Martina Kopecká Jurčeková: Successful Gathering of Leading Scientists: The First Annual International NETPHARM Conference (Assoc. Prof. Jaroslav Roh)" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_FF_UK_Successful_Gathering_of_Leading_Scientists_The_First_Annual_International_NETPHARM_Conference_298129dde1.jpg 208w," sizes="100vw" width="1200" height="900">On 16 April 2025, the second International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB) meeting was held after the conference, which provided valuable recommendations for further development of the project based on the presentations delivered.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/FF_UK_Uspesne_setkani_spickovych_vedcu_Prvni_vyrocni_mezinarodni_konference_projektu_NETPHARM_5_65b5668094.jpg" alt="FF UK/Ing. Jan Škop/Mgr. Martina Kopecká Jurčeková: Successful Gathering of Leading Scientists: The First Annual International NETPHARM Conference" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_FF_UK_Uspesne_setkani_spickovych_vedcu_Prvni_vyrocni_mezinarodni_konference_projektu_NETPHARM_5_65b5668094.jpg 208w," sizes="100vw" width="1200" height="900">In his closing remarks, Professor Petr Pávek expressed his gratitude to all attendees for their active participation and extended his appreciation for the insightful guidance provided by the ISAB.Both the conference and the ISAB meeting received overwhelmingly positive evaluations in terms of scientific content as well as organizational and technical aspects. Participants appreciated the high level of presentations, the welcoming and friendly atmosphere, and the professional background of the entire event.The First Annual Conference of the NETPHARM project clearly demonstrated the tremendous potential of international collaboration in advancing scientific excellence and education. The NETPHARM project is already delivering significant scientific results, fostering personal connections, and strengthening international partnerships.The organizing team and all involved extend their sincere thanks to the project partners, ISAB members, and young promising researchers for their commitment, enthusiasm, and outstanding contributions.We wish everyone continued success in achieving the next project milestones and look forward to future NETPHARM events!<blockquote>For more information about the project, please visit:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.faf.cuni.cz/NETPHARM/?lang=cs-cz">NETPHARM | Farmaceutická fakulta Univerzity Karlovy</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://portal.faf.cuni.cz/Projects/NETPHARM-project/">NETPHARM project | Vědecký portál - Farmaceutická fakulta UK</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.faf.cuni.cz/NETPHARM-Conference/Programme/">Programme | Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy</a></blockquote>

Successful Gathering of Leading Scientists: The First Annual International NETPHARM Conference

Although modern agriculture needs to be based on accurate real-time data on soil, plant, and environmental conditions, affordable, sufficiently sensitive, and robust monitoring devices for this purpose are currently missing. According to scientists, low-cost sensors based on new smart materials and printing technologies offer a suitable solution. The results of multidisciplinary research thus far and proposals for the development of these devices have been presented by researchers from Czechia, Great Britain, Spain, and the USA in a review article in the prestigious journal <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-68778-6#Abs1">Nature Communications</a>.“Sensor technologies for monitoring plant health are still in their infancy. Only simple sensors capable of monitoring basic parameters such as pH, soil moisture, or temperature are commonly available on the market. However, if farmers are to face current challenges, including climate change, and ensure sufficient food for humanity, they need much more effective tools that will enable them to monitor, for example, various pathogens, including bacteria and fungi. In our opinion, a suitable solution is a combination of new smart materials and printing for the production of inexpensive, durable, and scalable materials,” said the article’s first author, David Panáček from CATRIN, who worked on the study during his internship at Imperial College London.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_Soucasne_senzory_nestaci_Vedci_navrhuji_novou_cestu_ke_sledovani_zdravi_rostlin_b4014952a3.jpg" alt="CATRIN: David Panáček" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_Soucasne_senzory_nestaci_Vedci_navrhuji_novou_cestu_ke_sledovani_zdravi_rostlin_b4014952a3.jpg 208w," sizes="100vw" width="1536" height="1152">Sensors for monitoring plant health, for example, lag behind similar devices used in human medicine. According to the authors, advances in materials science, which will enable the development of scalable sensor technologies, play a key role in this potential shift. “Printing techniques, including inkjet printing, screen printing, aerosol printing, 3D printing, and direct laser writing, offer flexible ways to produce flexible sensors, large-area sensors, and sensors integrated directly into plants. The review article summarizes recent advances in printable low-dimensional materials for agricultural sensors, analyzes their physico-chemical properties in relation to sensor performance, and discusses key challenges and future opportunities requiring interdisciplinary integration,” said one of the corresponding authors, Michal Otyepka.The research brought together materials scientists, chemists, biologists, sensing experts, and printing technology specialists. Materials research and the use of graphene-based smart materials were led by scientists from CATRIN at Palacký University and VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava. Plant biologists from CATRIN contributed their knowledge of plant development, their responses to stress conditions, and the monitoring of their properties. Researchers from Imperial College London took care of the electronics, while representatives from<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/companies/36"> CEITEC – VUT</a> focused on printing technologies. The team also included leading experts in sensing from the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Barcelona, and Joseph Wang of the University of California San Diego, the “father of sensing and electrochemistry,” also contributed his extensive knowledge.“This is a groundbreaking study on this topic, which has managed to attract some truly big names in their respective fields. Last but not least, the study demonstrates that interdisciplinarity at CATRIN gives rise to completely new and promising research topics, such as plant sensing and its use for studying plant-environment interactions and smart agriculture,” added another corresponding author, Nuria De Diego.

Current sensors are not good enough. Scientists propose a new way to monitor plant health

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The Faculty of Pharmacy, with its seat in the town of Hradec Králové, was established by a government decree in 1969. This Faculty of Pharmacy has continued in the old and long-time tradition of the education of pharmacy at Charles University.

Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University

RECETOX (Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment) is an independent department of the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University in Brno, which has been established in 1983. RECETOX is focused on the research and education in cross-cutting area of Environment and Health. It addresses interactions among chemicals, environment, and biological systems, including consequences at local, regional, and global levels.

RECETOX - Centrum pro výzkum toxických látek v prostředí

The Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN) at Palacký University is a cutting-edge scientific hub dedicated to advancing research in the fields of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and biomedicine. At its core, CATRIN boasts outstanding scientific teams, featuring international researchers. We emphasize interdisciplinarity, foster global collaborations, and work to translate our research findings into practical applications.

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