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The Environmental Hazards of Micro- and Nanoplastics
Summary
Researchers reviewed how microplastics — tiny plastic particles found everywhere in the environment — can enter the body, accumulate in tissues, and disrupt the immune, digestive, and nervous systems, with exposure linked to hormonal imbalances, chronic disease, and cancer risk.
Plastic pollution is a major global environmental issue, with significant impacts on both ecosystems and human health.The widespread use of plastics in everyday life contributes to environmental contamination, with plastics taking hundreds of years to degrade.Primary microplastics, including microbeads and synthetic fibers and secondary microplastics, formed through the degradation of larger plastic materials, are prevalent in ecosystems worldwide.These particles pose serious risks to human health, as they can accumulate in tissues, cross biological barriers and disrupt systems like the digestive, immune and nervous systems.Microplastics can also carry toxic chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA), which cause hormonal imbalances and affect reproductive health.Exposure to microplastics is linked to chronic diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, as well as inflammation and immune dysfunction.As plastics continue to contaminate the environment, there is an urgent need for comprehensive research and effective solutions to reduce plastic production, enhance waste management and minimize exposure to microplastics to protect both ecosystems and human health.