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Air pollution and its impacts on health: Focus on microplastics and nanoplastics
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This review summarizes how airborne micro- and nanoplastics enter the body through breathing, eating, and skin contact, contributing to health risks alongside traditional air pollutants. Plastic particles have been found in human blood, vein tissues, and lungs, and their presence in fine particulate matter in urban air may worsen the inflammation, oxidative stress, and respiratory and heart disease risks already associated with air pollution.
Air pollution represents a significant public health concern, contributing to approximately 6.7 million premature deaths annually. Among the various pollutants, particulate matter (PM)2.5, emitted from fossil fuel combustion, poses a significant health risk. It induces oxidative stress and increases respiratory and cardiovascular disease risk. Recently, particulate plastics, classified as microplastics (MPs) (less than 5 mm) or nanoplastics (NPs) (less than 1 μm), have been identified as environmental contaminants. It has been demonstrated that plastic particles, including MPs and NPs, can gain access to the human body via inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact, resulting in various adverse health effects, such as inflammation and oxidative stress. Particulate plastics have been identified in human biological samples, including blood, saphenous vein tissues and lung tissues. Moreover, their presence in PM2.5, particularly in urban settings, exacerbates the health risks associated with air pollution. This review addresses the sources, detection, health effects, and mitigation strategies for particulate plastics in the atmosphere. Additionally, the study discusses the biological degradation of particulate plastics by microorganisms and the potential of advanced oxidation processes for their removal. These comprehensive approaches could reduce the environment and human health from the adverse effects of airborne particulate plastics.
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A review on microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment: Their occurrence, exposure routes, toxic studies, and potential effects on human health
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This review summarizes what is known about how microplastics and nanoplastics enter the human body through food, air, and skin contact, and what they do once inside. Studies on cells and animals show these tiny particles can cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, inflammation, and harm to the immune, digestive, reproductive, and nervous systems. The research makes clear that microplastics are not just an environmental problem but a direct concern for human health.
Microplastics and Nanoplastics as Environmental Contaminants of Emerging Concern: Potential Hazards for Human Health
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This review covers how microplastics and nanoplastics enter humans through food, air, and skin contact, accumulating in the body over time. Inhaled particles can damage the lungs from the upper airways down to the deepest air sacs, and prolonged exposure has been linked to chronic inflammation, autoimmune disease, atherosclerosis, and cancer. The authors call for source reduction, material substitution, and better filtration to reduce exposure.
Impact of microplastics and nanoplastics on human Health: Emerging evidence and future directions
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This review summarizes current evidence on how micro- and nanoplastics enter the human body through food, air, and skin contact, and the cellular damage they may cause. While microplastic pollution is a recognized environmental hazard, the authors note that definitive evidence linking plastic particle exposure to specific health outcomes in humans is still limited and more realistic exposure studies are needed.
From environment to body: sources and health consequences of microplastics and nanoplastics in humans
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This review summarizes existing research on how tiny plastic particles called microplastics and nanoplastics enter the human body through food, water, air, and skin contact. Studies cited suggest these particles may build up in tissues and are linked to inflammation, immune problems, and other health issues, though long-term human health risks remain unclear.
Airborne microplastics and human health in urban environments
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This review examines the sources, concentrations, and health impacts of airborne microplastics in urban environments across cities including Paris, London, Shanghai, and Delhi, covering respiratory inflammation, oxidative stress, and systemic toxicity associated with indoor and outdoor microplastic inhalation.
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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.