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Microplastic Pollution: A Global Environmental Crisis Impacting Marine Life, Human Health, and Potential Innovative Sustainable Solutions
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This review summarizes existing research on how microplastics move through water and air, accumulate in marine organisms, and transfer up the food chain to humans. The evidence suggests microplastics can increase harmful free radicals in the body, leading to DNA damage, cellular stress, altered gene expression, and reduced cell survival, highlighting the need for stronger regulations.
Pollution, especially plastic pollution, presents a serious worldwide danger to essential environmental resources. Microplastics are tiny plastic fragments varying in size from 50 μm to 5 mm. The primary aim of this article is to develop an extensive review grounded in the latest data accessible until 2024, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. A total of 329 data points were collected and 297 of those were removed through filtering, leaving 32 articles for the study, and taking into account the complete evolution of all the publications. This study seeks to enhance public awareness and knowledge among researchers about the harmful effects of plastic pollution on the environment and society by identifying its sources and consequences for humans and ecosystems. A detailed analysis of the sources of microplastics in the oceans and their detrimental effects on marine organisms is presented. This research additionally explores the transport of microplastics through various environmental pathways, including water and air. Aquatic species ingest microplastics, which subsequently transfer up the food chain, including humans, and these risks are discussed. Microplastics may increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to DNA and cellular damage, oxidative stress, alterations in gene expression, and decreased cell viability. Developing clear and effective guidelines and regulations is crucial for addressing the adverse issues related to microplastics. All participants in the policymaking and implementation of these guidelines must understand their roles and responsibilities.
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Genotoxicity and Genomic Instability Induced by Micro- and Nanoplastics: A Comprehensive Multi-Taxa Mechanistic Review.
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This review of existing research found that tiny plastic particles (microplastics and nanoplastics) can damage DNA in many different living things, from fish to human cells. The plastic particles cause this damage by creating harmful molecules called free radicals, disrupting the body's ability to repair DNA, and triggering inflammation. These findings suggest that the growing amount of plastic pollution in our environment could pose serious health risks to humans and wildlife.
Potential Health Impact of Microplastics: A Review of Environmental Distribution, Human Exposure, and Toxic Effects
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This review summarizes existing research on how microplastics are found throughout the environment and in human samples, entering the body through food, air, and skin contact. Lab studies in cells and animals show microplastics can cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, immune reactions, brain toxicity, and reproductive harm, and early human health data links microplastic exposure to several chronic diseases.
Microplastics in Aquatic Ecosystems: A Global Review of Distribution, Ecotoxicological Impacts, and Human Health Risks
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This global review summarizes how microplastics are distributed across freshwater, marine, and polar environments, and examines their ecological and human health impacts. People are exposed through contaminated seafood, water, and air, and research links microplastic exposure to oxidative stress, inflammation, hormone disruption, and possible genetic effects at the cellular level.
Impact of microplastics pollution on human health and aquatic life: a review
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This review summarizes how microplastics enter the environment from sources like plastic pellets, cosmetics, and the breakdown of larger plastics through UV light and weathering. Researchers describe how these tiny particles accumulate in oceans primarily from land-based human activities and transfer through the food chain from one organism to another. Evidence indicates that microplastic exposure in aquatic organisms can cause tissue damage, oxidative stress, and disruptions to normal biological processes.
Systematic Assessment of Mechanisms, Developments, Innovative Solutions, and Future Perspectives of Microplastics and Ecotoxicity – A Review
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This comprehensive review summarizes current knowledge about how microplastics form, spread through the environment, and affect living organisms at every level of the food chain. It covers the toxic effects of microplastics on cells, organs, and whole organisms, including inflammation, oxidative stress, and hormone disruption. The review also evaluates emerging methods for breaking down microplastics, concluding that a combination of prevention, cleanup, and policy changes is needed to address this growing health threat.
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