Are microplastics making us age faster?

Thursday, Jul 31, 2025 • Drew Davison :

A new interdisciplinary research project at The University of Texas at Arlington is investigating how microplastics—tiny plastic particles found in food, water and everyday consumer products—may impact the health of aging adults, particularly in relation to muscle and brain function.

The study is led by Un-Jung Kim, assistant professor in UT Arlington’s College of Science, with collaboration from School of Social Work Assistant Professor and co-investigator Kathy Siepker and the College of Nursing and Health Innovation’s Bone-Muscle Research Center.

“Research doesn’t happen in a vacuum,” said Kirk Foster, dean of UTA’s School of Social Work. “By collaborating across disciplines, we can take a more comprehensive approach to understanding issues that affect quality of life across populations.”

The team’s focus is on how micro- and nanoplastics may affect bone and muscle health in humans—a critical issue particularly for older adults, a population Dr. Siepker has worked closely with throughout her academic and clinical career. She is eager to study the various contributing factors that lead to different health outcomes.

Related: Harmful microplastics infiltrating drinking water

 

“I will lead a scoping review with the research team to explore how lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol use and socioeconomic status may compound the long-term health effects of microplastic exposure,” said Siepker, a licensed clinical social worker who provides counseling for older adults and their family caregivers.

“What excites me most is the potential for real-world impact. We’re not just gathering data for its own sake. We want to improve lives—not only for today’s older adults, but for future generations—by understanding how our choices and environments shape our health across the lifespan.”

 

Although previous studies have shown that microplastics can accumulate in the organs and tissues of marine mammals, their effects on human biology remain largely unknown.

“A lot of the existing research focused on animals. That’s a gap this study hopes to help close,” Siepker said. “We want to look beyond just age or gender. We’re asking: How do people live their lives? What are their habits, their environments? How might that shape the way microplastics affect their health?”

Related: UTA begins groundbreaking study on how we age

Funded by UTA’s Interdisciplinary Research Program, the study is expected to run for one year. The goal is to ultimately expand the research into exploring additional outcomes such as brain health.

— Written by Thomas Johns, School of Social Work

 --

The UTA College of Science, a Carnegie R1 research institution, is preparing the next generation of leaders in science through innovative education and hands-on research and offers programs in Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Data Science, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Health Professions, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology. To support educational and research efforts visit the giving page, or if you're a prospective student interested in beginning your #MaverickScience journey visit our future students page.