Guwahati: In an Indo-US collaborative study, two scientists from The Assam Royal Global University (RGU), Guwahati, have contributed to a major discovery linking microplastics — the near-invisible fragments of plastic pollution — to cancer development in humans.
The study, published in Molecular Cancer (Springer Nature; Impact Factor 35.9), one of the world’s top oncology journals, decodes how environmental exposure to microplastics could influence the onset and progression of cancer.
The collaborative team of ten scientists includes Prof. Amlan Das from RGU’s Department of Microbiology, who served as the corresponding author, and Dr. Rupesh Kumar from the Department of Biotechnology, as a co-author.
The research — jointly undertaken by RGU, IISER Tirupati, Nalanda University, Stephenson Cancer Centre, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Centre, and Louisiana State University — provides one of the most comprehensive syntheses to date on how microplastics may act as emerging oncogenic drivers.
“Microplastics are no longer just an environmental concern — they represent a hidden biological risk that calls for global awareness and policy attention,” said Prof. Das. “Our review consolidates key scientific insights to inform both future research and regulatory directions.”
Once considered inert pollutants, microplastics — tiny fragments less than 5 millimetres in size — are now known to infiltrate human tissues, bloodstreams, and even placentas. Recent studies have detected their presence in marine food chains, drinking water, and air, underscoring their pervasive impact.
According to the team’s findings, microplastics may contribute to cancer by disrupting cellular communication, inducing oxidative stress, and damaging DNA integrity — mechanisms that mirror known pathways of carcinogenesis. Their minute size and persistent nature allow them to accumulate in organs, triggering inflammatory and mutagenic responses over time.
Dr. Kumar noted that the work underscores the urgency of bridging environmental science and cancer biology. “The implications of this research are immense. It’s a call to rethink how we manage plastic pollution, not only as an ecological issue but also as a direct human health hazard,” he said.
Both scientists credited RGU’s research-driven ecosystem for fostering international collaboration and innovation.
As microplastics continue to infiltrate every layer of the planet — from oceans to human lungs — this landmark study highlights a silent, growing crisis. The invisible pollutants that have defined the modern age may now hold clues to one of its deadliest diseases.
