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Microplastic Neurotoxicity in the Prefrontal Cortex: A Review of Mechanisms and Neuropsychiatric Associations
Summary
Researchers synthesize current evidence on how microplastics accumulate in the brain and impair prefrontal cortex function through structural neural network damage, neurotransmitter disruption, and neuroinflammation, proposing mechanistic links to cognitive deficits, emotional dysregulation, and neuropsychiatric conditions.
The escalating crisis of plastic pollution has positioned microplastics (MPs) as globally pervasive environmental contaminants, with a documented presence across aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric ecosystems, as well as within biological organisms. A growing body of evidence suggests that MPs not only threaten ecological integrity but may also induce multifaceted neurotoxic effects in humans, particularly targeting the functional architecture of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). As the central regulator of cognition, emotional processing, and behavioral control, PFC dysfunction has been hypothesized to be associated with cognitive deficits, emotional dysregulation, and behavioral abnormalities. In this comprehensive review, we synthesize the current understanding of MP-mediated neurotoxicity through three interconnected pathways: (1) structural and functional impairment of PFC neural networks, (2) disruption of neurotransmitter homeostasis, and (3) potential associations with neuropsychiatric pathogenesis. By integrating these mechanistic insights, this work aims to provide a scientific foundation for risk assessment frameworks and evidence-based environmental health policies.