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A systematic review of the presence and potential health impacts of microplastics in the human body
Summary
This review pulled together 25 studies confirming that tiny plastic particles (microplastics and nanoplastics) have been found throughout the human body—in blood, lungs, organs, and even placental tissue—showing these particles can travel and build up inside us. However, researchers still don't fully understand what health effects this buildup causes, largely because studies use inconsistent methods to detect and measure these particles, so more standardized research is urgently needed before we can say exactly how worried we should be.
Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) have emerged as ubiquitous environmental contaminants, with increasing evidence of human exposure and growing concern regarding their potential health impacts. Recent investigations have documented their presence in multiple human biological matrices. This systematic review aimed to comprehensively synthesize current evidence on the occurrence, physical and chemical characteristics, and biodistribution of MPs and NPs in human tissues and body fluids; critically evaluate the analytical techniques used for their detection; and identify key gaps in existing knowledge. The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA-P guidelines. Five major scientific databases, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar, were systematically searched for peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2025 that reported direct detection of MPs or NPs in human biological samples. Following rigorous screening and eligibility assessment, 25 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. The reviewed evidence confirmed widespread detection of MPs and NPs across diverse human matrices, including excretory products, respiratory secretions, systemic circulation, vascular tissues, major organs, and placental tissue, underscoring their ability to translocate within the human body. Considerable variability was observed in reported particle size, shape, polymer type, and concentration, largely reflecting methodological heterogeneity and differences in environmental exposure contexts. Overall, this review underscores substantial knowledge gaps regarding human biodistribution patterns, emphasizing the urgent need for standardization.