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Impact of microplastics on human health: A critical role of gut microbiota
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Researchers systematically reviewed how microplastics traverse biological barriers and deposit in human organs, documenting that ingested MPs mechanically damage the intestinal lining, shift gut microbiota toward a Firmicutes-dominant profile, and disrupt metabolite production — changes that propagate via gut-liver and gut-brain axes to contribute to metabolic, cardiovascular, neurological, and reproductive disorders, positioning microbiome modulation as a potential therapeutic strategy.
Microplastics (MPs), environmental pollutants resulting from the degradation of plastic products and industrial processes, have become ubiquitous in global ecosystems. MPs can enter the human body through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact subsequently accumulating in vital tissues such as the liver, lungs, blood, and placenta. This review systematically evaluates the metabolic fate of MPs in humans, emphasizing their translocation across biological barriers and organ-specific deposition. We elaborated on the direct damage of MPs on the intestinal mucosal barrier and while simultaneously remodelling the gut microbiota, and focuses on the regulatory role of gut microbiota in the process of MPs-induced human health damage. Ingestion of MPs induces mechanical damage to the intestinal mucosa, epithelial cell apoptosis, and inflammation. It also alters gut microbial composition, that most notably increasing Firmicutes while decreasing Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria, as well as disrupts metabolite production, including short-chain fatty acids and bile acids. These microbiota-mediated changes propagate via the gut-liver or gut-brain axis, contributing to obesity, cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, and reproductive impairments. This review clarifies the potential mechanism of MPs affecting human health through gut microbiota, and clearly identifies gut microbiota regulation as a potential therapeutic strategy to mitigate MP-induced diseases, and provides practical guidance for reducing MP-related health risks.
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Gut microbiota as an emerging target for the health implications of microplastics
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This review examines how microplastic exposure disrupts the gut microbiome, finding evidence that microplastics damage intestinal barrier proteins, promote inflammation and oxidative stress, and may drive systemic effects including neurotoxicity and reproductive toxicity through gut-mediated pathways.
Impact of microplastics on the intestinal microbiota: A systematic review of preclinical evidence
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Across 28 preclinical studies, microplastics triggered intestinal dysbiosis characterized by increased Firmicutes and Proteobacteria and decreased Bacteroidetes, while increasing gut permeability and elevating pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6.
Microplastics and human health: unveiling the gut microbiome disruption and chronic disease risks
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This review summarizes evidence that microplastics disrupt the gut microbiome, the community of bacteria in our digestive system that plays a key role in immunity, metabolism, and overall health. By altering gut bacteria balance and triggering inflammation, microplastic exposure may contribute to chronic conditions including inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic disorders, and potentially even neurological problems through the gut-brain connection.
The ant that may well destroy a whole dam: a systematic review of the health implication of nanoplastics/microplastics through gut microbiota
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This systematic review summarizes existing research on how nanoplastics and microplastics disrupt gut bacteria in various organisms. The findings show that plastic particle exposure consistently alters gut microbiome composition, which in turn affects the host's immune function, metabolism, and overall health. These gut bacteria changes may be a key pathway through which microplastics harm human health.
Gut microbiome alterations associated with microplastics: Underestimated risk from tiny particle
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This review pulls together existing research showing that tiny plastic particles, found in our food, water, and even air, can disrupt the balance of bacteria living in our gut, and this disruption has been linked to problems ranging from digestive diseases to effects on the brain, liver, and reproductive system in animal studies. The catch: scientists still struggle to accurately detect and measure these particles in the body, meaning our real-world exposure and its health effects are likely underestimated. Bottom line, microplastics may be quietly messing with your gut health in ways we're only beginning to understand and measure.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.