This week in bio-hacking (March)
Each week we bring you three of the latest findings in global research on human health and longevity.
This week, microplastics are dominating the news and not for positive reasons, whilst a Finnish study examines if extreme exercise is actually beneficial to your health.
Microplastics linked to chronic disease.
Higher exposure to microplastics is associated with a heightened prevalence of chronic noncommunicable diseases, according to new research being presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.25).
This study suggests that being exposed to tiny plastic particles, called microplastics, may increase the risk of health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, and strokes. Researchers looked at how microplastics in water might be linked to these diseases in communities along U.S. coastlines and lakes. They used data from 2015-2019 and analysed microplastics found in seafloor sediments.
Surprisingly, when they compared microplastics to 154 other factors (like income levels, employment rates, and air pollution), microplastics ranked in the top 10 for predicting chronic diseases. This means microplastics might play a bigger role in public health than expected. The study used machine learning to analyze patterns and compare disease rates with pollution levels. It highlights concerns about how everyday exposure to microplastics—through food, water, and air—could be affecting long-term health.
For us, this evidence is just one more element of proof that filtered water is essential for our health. The activated carbon filters in Hydroco bottles are designed to trap 99% of microplastics in your water. Read more about how our filter works here
Read the full study here.
Chewing gum can shed microplastics into saliva, pilot study finds.
Researchers have found that chewing gum may also be a source of microplastics. A small study showed that each piece of gum can release hundreds to thousands of microplastics into saliva, which may then be swallowed.
Researchers tested different types of chewing gum to see if they release tiny plastic particles called microplastics. They expected synthetic gums, made from petroleum-based rubber, to release more microplastics than natural gums, which use plant-based ingredients.
To test this, they had one person chew multiple brands of gum for set time periods, collecting saliva samples along the way. They then analyzed the samples in a lab using special techniques to count and identify the plastic particles. The results showed how much microplastic is released while chewing gum.
Read the full study here.
Does exercise really extend life? Finnish twin study offers new insights
Exercise is believed to help people live longer, but studies on twins suggest the link may not be as simple as it seems.
A Finnish twin study of 22,750 people found that moderate exercise lowers the risk of early death by 7% compared to a sedentary lifestyle, but higher activity levels don’t offer extra benefits. Meeting WHO exercise guidelines didn’t significantly reduce mortality or genetic disease risks. Surprisingly, both low and high activity levels were linked to faster biological ageing, suggesting that too much or too little exercise might accelerate the body's ageing process.
Read the full study here.