Our research projects on microplastics and nanoplastics
15+ projects designed or in incubation, across 3 major areas.
Three areas, one question
Research conducted in marine biology since the late 20th century has established the toxicity of plastic pollution on marine organisms — but also its complexity: the physico-chemical nature of the polymer, particle size (macro, meso, micro, nano), chemical additives, routes of contamination. TORPP is engaged in 3 major research areas on micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs).
Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) can affect the nervous system through two mechanisms: a direct attack on neurons after crossing the blood–brain barrier, and an indirect effect via destabilisation of the gut microbiota that disrupts the gut–brain axis. TORPP explores both mechanisms, from its ecological model to human clinical research, to assess their role in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
Study of the links between the chemical exposome (PFAS, pesticides, heavy metals, micro/nanoplastics) and neurodegenerative diseases in the French West Indies.
Led by Pr Annie Lannuzel and the Clinical Investigation Centre of the CHU de Pointe-à-Pitre (Pointe-à-Pitre University Hospital), MANAEC compares the ecotoxicological profiles (pesticides, heavy metals, PFAS, MNPs) of typical and atypical Parkinson's patients, with measurements of systemic inflammation, neurodegeneration (neurofilaments) and synaptic function (B-esterases). The study draws on the TORPP ecosystem: CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research) CBMN, ICM Barcelona, CHU de Nantes, GIRPA laboratory. It serves as a proof of concept for the prospective MIPMAP cohort, planned for late 2026 in the French West Indies.
Prospective clinical cohort to be deployed in the French West Indies in late 2026, to confirm on a larger scale the link between microplastic exposure and Parkinson's disease identified by the MANAEC proof-of-concept study.
MIPMAP extends MANAEC into a prospective cohort: the same ecotoxicological measurements and biomarkers (neurofilaments, cytokines, B-esterases), on a larger group of typical and atypical Parkinson's patients followed in the French West Indies. The study aims to confirm, under larger-scale clinical conditions, the contribution of the chemical exposome — MNPs in particular — to the expression and progression of the disease.
Prospective clinical cohort to be deployed in the French West Indies in early 2027 to confirm the link between micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) and Alzheimer's disease; including an ancillary study on the ecological model of sea turtles (characterisation of behavioural abnormalities in hyper-contaminated turtles).
Necropsy-based research into prodromal signatures of Parkinson's disease in the digestive tract of sea turtles, mirroring the human clinical research conducted under MANAEC and MIPMAP.
Conducted with INRAE (French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment) PhAN (Dr Gwenola Le Drean) and the Aquarium de La Rochelle (Florence Dell'Amico), NECROTOMIP uses necropsy to search for physiopathological signatures of neurodegenerative diseases in sea turtles, correlated with their level of MNP contamination. Colon samples are collected to measure Tau protein and alpha-synuclein, conventional biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases (Chapelet et al., 2023).
Microplastic ingestion has been confirmed in all seven sea turtle species. It causes digestive disorders — gut microbiota dysbiosis, inflammation, fibrosis — that can compromise nutrient assimilation and energy reserves. TORPP studies this nutritional toxicity in the sea turtle and, mirroring this, in the human newborn.
Study of the impact of micro- and nanoplastics on the gut microbiota and overall health of sea turtles.
The first demonstrator project of the TORPP research group, CAOUA demonstrates an impact of microplastics and nanoplastics on the architecture of the gut microbiome in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), with effects on immune, biochemical and haematological homeostasis (Auguet et al., in prep). The study draws on the TORPP consortium — CNRS MARBEC (Dr Jean-Christophe Auguet), CNRS CBMN (Dr Sophie Lecomte) — later continued by MINUMAG.
Pilot study on 29 hospitalised loggerhead sea turtles: gut microbiota recomposition, growth velocity and body composition measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis, a technology never before used in sea turtles, borrowed from human medicine.
Conducted with the Aquarium de La Rochelle (Florence Dell'Amico) and INRAE PhAN (Dr Marie-Cécile Alexandre), MINUMAG cross-references the gut microbiota (Dr Jean-Christophe Auguet, CNRS MARBEC) and the MNP contamination profile (Dr Sophie Lecomte, CNRS CBMN) of 29 loggerhead sea turtles. The study develops and validates a species-specific algorithm for measuring body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), with a view to rolling out the device in rehabilitation centres.
Mirroring MINUMAG, a human clinical study in neonatology on the maternal–fetal transfer of microplastics and its impact on the digestive development and growth of newborns.
Led by Pr Delphine Mitanchez at the CHU de Tours (ANSES funding, 2026), NEOPLASTICS analyses the impact of MNPs on the gut microbiota, inflammation and digestive permeability, digestive comfort, the metabolome and growth velocity in newborns — in response to pilot studies already showing the presence of MNPs in the placenta, amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood and breast milk.
In 2024, Marfella et al. established a link between the presence of microplastics in atherosclerotic plaques and an increased risk of heart attack or stroke (HR = 4.53 in the most contaminated patients). TORPP explores this same mechanism in humans and, mirroring this, in the sea turtle — a hyper-exposed sentinel species.
Seeking a proof of concept on the contribution of microplastics to aortic valve calcification, arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk, echoing the work of Marfella et al. (2024) in humans.
Conducted with Dr Vincent Sauzeau, MICAVAO seeks a proof of concept for the contribution of MNPs to aortic valve calcification and arterial stiffness. In a One Health approach, the NECROTOMIP ancillary study is in parallel investigating vascular calcifications in the sea turtle — a long-lived sentinel species, chronically exposed to MNPs and to other risk factors such as hyperphosphataemia linked to agricultural inputs.
