Neurotoxic Effects of Nanoplastics: Current Evidence and Mechanistic Insights

Plastic products are extensively utilized in various industrial goods and consumer items. However, when these plastics fail to undergo complete degradation, they generate nanoplastic particles (NPs). As emerging environmental pollutants, such nanoplastics are highly likely to have widespread and adverse impacts on human health. Accumulating evidence indicates that NPs can penetrate biological barriers and exert toxic effects on multiple organs, including the nervous system. Although extensive studies have investigated the toxicity of NPs, the mechanisms underlying their long-term neurotoxic effects remain poorly understood. Here, we summarize the current understanding on the exposure pathways of NPs, their neurotoxic effects, and the molecular mechanisms involved in neurotoxicity. Emerging evidence suggests that NPs induce neurological damage through various mechanisms, including oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, ferroptosis, autophagy dysregulation, and gut–brain axis imbalance. A comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms will provide new insights into the potential impacts of environmental NPs exposure on the nervous system and contribute to more accurate health risk assessments.