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Microplastic and Nanoplastic Exposures, Gut Microbiome Disruption, and Nutritional Health: A One Health Systematic Review of Human and Translational Evidence-Systematic Review
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This review pulls together current research on how tiny plastic particles from food, water, and packaging may disrupt our gut bacteria, potentially triggering inflammation and other health issues. The catch: most evidence so far comes from animal or lab studies, so while cutting plastic exposure seems wise, science can't yet recommend specific diets or treatments to counteract the effects. More human studies are needed before we know exactly what to do about it.
Background: Food, drinking water, food-contact materials, and infant-feeding products are important interfaces for exposure to microplastics, nanoplastics, and associated contaminants. Their effects on the gut microbiome and host metabolism create a One Health problem linking nutritional, human, animal, and ecosystem health. Objective: To synthesize recent human and translational evidence on microplastic exposure, emphasizing gut microbiome disruption, nutritional pathways, One Health, and multi-omics. Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE and Europe PMC were searched for English-language reports published from January 1, 2021, through September 12, 2026; supplementary citation searching identified additional reports. Eligibility was restricted to primary studies examining a defined microplastic or nanoplastic exposure together with host-associated intestinal microbiota, experimentally generated omics data relevant to host response, or a human nutritional-exposure pathway. Environmental and mechanistic publications not meeting these primary criteria were retained only for contextual interpretation. Results: The reconstructed evidence set comprised 29 primary studies and 16 contextual sources. Primary evidence described context-dependent dysbiosis, altered microbial metabolites, epithelial injury, oxidative stress, inflammation, and perturbation of gut-organ axes. Food processing, heating, storage, and infant-feeding materials emerged as potentially modifiable exposure points. Fiber-, prebiotic-, probiotic-, and polyphenol-oriented strategies remain preclinical or hypothesis-generating; no omics-guided or dietary treatment is validated for routine care. Conclusions: Current evidence supports exposure reduction, standardized measurement, and prospective human research. Multi-omics may improve mechanistic characterization and trial stratification, but clinical recommendations must not be inferred directly from animal, aquatic, or in-vitro findings.
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Micro and Nanoplastics in Biological Systems: A One Health Review of Environmental Toxicity, Microbial Dysbiosis, and Human Health Risks
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Tiny plastic particles from everyday sources—packaging, synthetic clothes, tires, and more—are showing up not just in our environment but inside our bodies, including in blood, lungs, and even breast milk. This review pulls together existing research showing these particles can disrupt gut bacteria, trigger inflammation, and cause damage in animal studies, though scientists still can't say for certain whether they cause chronic diseases in humans. The bottom line: this is a fast-growing health concern worth watching, but we need better testing methods and long-term studies before drawing firm conclusions about the risks to your health.
Micro- and Nanoplastics as Environmental Stressors: Mechanistic Links Among Gut Dysbiosis, Inflammation, and Systemic Health Effects
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This review pulls together existing research on how the tiny plastic particles we're constantly exposed to (in food, water, and air) might harm our health, not just by directly damaging cells, but by disrupting our gut bacteria and triggering chronic inflammation throughout the body. Scientists think this chain reaction could play a role in heart, liver, kidney, lung, and even brain diseases, though the evidence in humans is still early and more research is needed to confirm how serious the risk really is. The takeaway: microplastics may affect health through your gut, not just wherever they physically end up in the body.
Microplastics and nanoplastics as possible carriers and/or indirect modulators of microbial metagenomes: Any effect on human health?
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This review looks at how tiny plastic particles in our environment can carry bacteria, including harmful ones, and possibly disrupt the healthy microbes in our gut and lungs. Early animal studies hint this could contribute to inflammation and disease, but scientists stress there's no solid proof yet that this happens in humans, more research is needed.
Micro(nano)plastics and Their Potential Impact on Human Gut Health: A Narrative Review
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This review summarizes research on how micro- and nanoplastics affect the gut, finding that they can damage the intestinal lining, trigger immune responses, and disrupt the balance of beneficial gut bacteria in both cell studies and animal models. Since humans are primarily exposed to microplastics through food and food packaging, understanding these gut effects is essential for assessing the true health risks of plastic pollution.
The Gut Microbiome in Foodborne Microplastic Toxicity: Mechanistic Insights and Human Health Risk Assessment
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This review pulls together existing research on how microplastics we eat, tiny plastic particles found in food and water, may disrupt the trillions of bacteria living in our gut, weakening the gut's protective barrier and triggering inflammation and stress throughout the body. It also points out that plastics can act like tiny rafts, carrying other harmful chemicals into our system and making the damage worse. While scientists don't yet have the full picture, this matters because it suggests the microplastics in our daily diet could be quietly affecting digestive and overall health, making this an area worth watching closely.
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