UTA School of Social Work professor joins interdisciplinary study to uncover the effects of microplastics on aging muscles
A new interdisciplinary research project at The University of Texas at Arlington is exploring 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 funded through UTA’s Interdisciplinary Research Program (IRP) and brings together experts from multiple fields. Dr. Unjung Kim, assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, is leading the project in collaboration with the College of Nursing and Health Innovation’s Bone and Muscle Research Center. Dr. Kathy Siepker, associate professor in the School of Social Work, serves as a co-investigator.
“Research doesn’t happen in a vacuum,” said Dr. Kirk Foster, dean of the University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work. “By collaborating across disciplines, we can take a more comprehensive approach to understanding issues that affect the 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 especially for older adults, a population Siepker has worked closely with throughout her academic and clinical career. Starting this fall, researchers will begin collecting muscle tissue samples from both younger and older donors.
“In addition to studying the biological effects on muscle tissue, we are particularly interested in how health disparities—such as income, race, and access to care—may influence exposure to microplastics and related health outcomes,” Siepker said. “As a co-investigator, 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.”
Dr. Kathy Siepker, assistant professor in the School of Social Work, poses for a photo.
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 has focused on animals,” she said. “That’s a gap this study hopes to help close. 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?”
This study may have broader potential beyond the IRP project as the research team plans to expand its scope to investigate additional health outcomes—such as brain health—in future phases of the work.
“During our early discussions, we realized that while our primary focus was muscle and bone health, there could be strong links to brain health as well,” she said.
By bringing adding a Social Work focus to the study, the research conducted can find more connections between micro- and nanoplastics and the populations they effect.
“With Dr. Siepker bringing the social work perspective to this study, they’re not just examining how micro- and nanoplastics affect muscle function in aging adults—they’re also exploring how environmental factors and access to healthcare intensify those effects” Foster said.
Dr. Kathy Siepker achieved her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Soong Sil University before graduating with a Master of Social Work focusing on Gerontology from Washington University – St. Louis in 2014. She later pursued and achieved her PhD in Social Work from Ohio State University in 2018, continuing her research and work with aging populations.
Siepker is a licensed clinical social worker who provides counseling for older adults and their family caregivers. She says her research directly informs her practice.
“Sometimes I can take what I’ve learned from research and apply it right away,” she said. “It’s not just about writing a paper someone else might read—it’s about bringing that knowledge into the lives of the people I work with every day.”
Siepker previously collaborated with UTA researchers on an IRP-funded study aimed at detecting Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers in brain using advanced portable devices. That work ultimately secured funding from the National Institutes of Health, and she hopes this project will follow a similar trajectory.
“What excites me most is the potential for real-world impact,” she said. “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.”
The project is expected to run for one year. Findings may inform future public health guidance and research on aging, environmental exposure, and health equity.