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The impact of microplastics and nanoplastics on human health: a growing concern
Summary
Tiny plastic particles—so small they can enter your body through the food you eat, the air you breathe, and even your skin—have become impossible to avoid, and this review pulls together existing research on what that means for your health. Scientists have found these particles can travel from your gut, lungs, and skin into your bloodstream, reaching organs throughout your body and even crossing into the placenta during pregnancy, where they may disrupt hormones, trigger inflammation, and cause cellular damage. While researchers are still working out exactly how harmful this is, the mounting evidence is a strong signal that reducing plastic exposure and pollution deser
The excessive production and improper disposal of plastic has led to the contamination of all marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The degradation of this debris in the form of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) has resulted in the contamination of food, water, and everyday products, which renders human exposure inevitable whether by ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact. The use of plastics additives during the production, or the adsorption of substances in environmental conditions, make it difficult to decipher the toxic mechanisms of these emerging pollutants. They are found in absorption organs (gut, lungs, skin) where they are associated with local dysfunction and inflammation. Through various biological processes, MNPs can cross biological barriers to reach the bloodstream and all irrigated organs, even the placenta, raising the question of foetal contamination. Recent studies demonstrated the ability of these particles to impair metabolism and hormone homeostasis, as well as to induce local inflammation and oxidative stress via specific mechanisms detailed in this review. To provide a comprehensive overview of this pollution problem, this review also presents regulatory data and possible large-scale action levers based on economic models.