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Exposure to Microplastics in Biological Matrices and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Children: A Systematic Review
Summary
This review looked at all the existing research on tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in kids' bodies and their brain development, but found only three studies—all from China, all in 2025—and they had significant overlap and quality issues. While each study hinted that more microplastic exposure might connect to worse behavioral or cognitive outcomes, the evidence is currently too weak and unreplicated to draw real conclusions. Bottom line: this is an important area to watch, but we're not yet at the point where parents should be alarmed—more rigorous, independent studies are needed before we know if microplastics actually affect children's brain development.
Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants detected in numerous human tissues, yet epidemiological evidence on MNPs exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children has not been systematically evaluated. We aimed to systematically identify, appraise, and synthesize observational evidence on this association in children aged 0–18 years. Six databases were searched on 19 February 2026 following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD420261328979). Risk of bias and certainty of evidence were assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklists and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) framework. Three studies met the inclusion criteria (all published in 2025, China; n = 30–5670; two studies with probable population overlap), addressing behavioral, cognitive, and neurological outcome domains, encompassing 56 associations across 14 outcomes. Each study showed a uniform direction of association (higher MP exposure was associated with poorer outcomes); however, probable population overlap between Dong and Zheng precludes interpretation of this pattern as independent cross-study replication. All outcomes were rated Very Low certainty under GRADE; meta-analysis was not performed. Although experimental evidence supports biological plausibility, no causal inferences can be drawn in the absence of independent replication, and the field remains at the stage of hypothesis generation. Future studies should prioritize prospective longitudinal designs, spectroscopic exposure confirmation, and standardized neurodevelopmental outcomes.