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Human Exposure to Micro- and Nanoplastics: Trans -Barrier Transport, Tissue Accumulation, and Health Risks
Summary
Tiny plastic particles called micro- and nanoplastics are turning up in human bodies more than we realized—including surprisingly high amounts in brain tissue—and this review pulls together existing research showing they can enter through food, air, and skin, then slip past the body's natural defenses (like the blood-brain barrier and placenta) to build up in organs. While scientists are still working out exactly how harmful this is long-term, early studies link these particles to various toxic effects, which is why researchers are calling for better detection tools and more research into low-dose, everyday exposure. The bottom line: plastic pollution isn't just an environmental probl
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) as emerging pollutant are widespread in the environment. MNPs have been widely detected in human samples, with reported concentrations in human brain tissue reaching 298.5–47,730 μg/g. Furthermore, several clinical and epidemiological studies suggest that human exposure to MNPs may be associated with adverse health outcomes. These findings have raised growing concerns about the potential health risks of MNPs. This review summarizes current knowledge on the exposure pathways, occurrence and distribution, trans -barrier transport, toxicity, and health risks of MNPs in humans. Studies indicate the primary exposure pathways of MNPs to human including ingestion, inhalation, dermal contact, as well as direct exposure via intravenous injection and surgery. Moreover, MNPs can traverse multiple biological barriers such as intestinal barrier, blood–alveolar barrier, placental barrier, blood–testis barrier, and blood–brain barrier, resulting in accumulation in various tissues. Studies in vivo and in vitro demonstrate that MNPs cause multiple toxic effects. Notably, this review provides an integrated perspective on the continuous biological cascade from external exposure through internal processes to adverse health outcomes. In addition, we point out that future research should focus on improving identification techniques, performing long-term low-dose exposure assessments, and elucidating the underlying mechanisms.