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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- and nanoplastic particles (MNPs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants detected across diverse ecosystems and human tissues. While chemical toxicity is widely studied, emerging evidence suggests that MNPs act as dynamic biological vectors. Preliminary experimental studies suggest that MNPs colonized with microorganisms may enhance microbial pathogenicity or facilitate host–pathogen interactions, leading to increased mortality in small animal models. However, key questions remain unresolved, including whether MNP-associated microbial communities can be transferred to humans and contribute to chronic disease development. We first examine how the plastisphere can concentrate opportunistic pathogens, enrich antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) via biofilm dynamics, and display distinct ecological behaviors across biodegradable polymers and airborne environments. We then assess preclinical and emerging observational data exploring how ingested and inhaled MNPs may interact with mucosal interfaces, potentially influencing gut and respiratory microbiota composition and barrier integrity. While experimental models suggest that MNP-associated dysbiosis could indirectly fuel systemic inflammation and metabolic/cardiovascular risks, direct causal evidence in humans is currently lacking. Finally, we outline pragmatic preventive strategies, discuss methodological bottlenecks, and advocate for standardized longitudinal studies to clarify the true clinical relevance of the plastisphere.
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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.
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.
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.
Environmental Fate, Plastisphere Microbial Dynamics, and Human Health Implications of Marine Micro- and Nanoplastics
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Tiny plastic bits in the ocean don't just float around alone—they quickly become coated with microbes, forming a kind of floating microbial ecosystem called the "plastisphere" that can carry harmful bacteria and chemicals through the food chain. This review of existing research suggests that exposure to these microplastics may be linked to inflammation, hormone disruption, and gut bacteria imbalances in animals, and possibly humans too—though scientists still need better tools to measure exactly how much risk this poses to our health.
The potential effects of microplastics on human health: What is known and what is unknown
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This review summarizes what is currently known about how microplastics might affect human health, noting that while contamination is widespread in food, water, and air, direct evidence of harm in humans is still limited. Studies in animals and cell cultures suggest microplastics could trigger immune responses, cause inflammation, and affect reproduction and development. The authors call for more rigorous clinical studies to determine whether the levels of microplastics that people actually encounter pose real health risks.
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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.