International Conference on Biomedical Research

Emmanuel Gichuru, born in August 1994 in Nakuru, Kenya, is a visionary leader and entrepreneur renowned for his notable contributions to Environmental Resource Management, technology and sustainable development. Raised in a modest neighborhood in Nakuru, Emmanuel's early passion for environmental conservation was fostered by his parents, both educators, who emphasized the importance of education and hard work. Guided by insatiable curiosity and determination, Emmanuel's formative years laid the foundation for his subsequent endeavors in becoming a leader at the intersection of environmental stewardship and technological innovation.

The Interplay of Microplastics, Climate Change and Human Microbiota
The ubiquity of microplastics in the environment and the escalating impacts of climate change present significant challenges to human health, particularly concerning human microbiology. Microplastics, minute plastic particles less than 5mm in size, have been detected in various environmental matrices entering the food chain, including air, water and soil, ultimately entering the human body through inhalation, ingestion and dermal contact. Once inside the body, microplastics can interact with human microbiota, potentially altering gut microbial composition and function. These changes may disrupt metabolic processes and microbial communities, hinder nutrient absorption, immune response and even contribute to the development of gastrointestinal diseases and even harbor harmful pathogens.

Simultaneously, climate change exacerbates these effects by influencing the distribution and concentration of microplastics through altered weather patterns, increased storm intensity and changes in ocean currents. Rising temperatures and shifts in precipitation patterns can also affect the human microbiome directly. Heat stress and changes in humidity can alter the diversity and composition of microbial communities on our skin, gut and microbiota, while the increased incidence of foodborne,  waterborne and vector-borne diseases and  antibiotic-resistant pathogens under warmer conditions can impact gut health. Furthermore, climate change-induced environmental stressors can affect the diversity and resilience of human-associated microbial communities, potentially leading to increased susceptibility to infections and chronic diseases creating disruptions to the delicate balance between beneficial and harmful microbes.

This abstract underscores the need for interdisciplinary research to elucidate the complex interactions between microplastics, climate change and human microbiology. Understanding these interactions and influence in the human microbiota is crucial for developing strategies to mitigate adverse health outcomes and protect human health in the face of environmental changes.Further research is needed to elucidate how microplastics and climate change exert their effects, allowing us to develop strategies to mitigate these threats and promote a healthy human microbiome.