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Human Health Effects
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Occupational Exposure to Elevated Levels of Inhalable Microplastics in Plastic and Fiber Factory Workers
2025
1 citation
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 53
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Guyu Peng,
Dušan Materić,
Guyu Peng,
Guyu Peng,
Guyu Peng,
Guyu Peng,
Guyu Peng,
Dušan Materić,
Guyu Peng,
Guyu Peng,
Guyu Peng,
Guyu Peng,
Guyu Peng,
Guyu Peng,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Mikko Poikkimäki,
Dušan Materić,
Guyu Peng,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Thorsten Reemtsma
Guyu Peng,
Guyu Peng,
Guyu Peng,
Thorsten Reemtsma
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Mikko Poikkimäki,
Dušan Materić,
Thorsten Reemtsma
Dušan Materić,
Thorsten Reemtsma
Guyu Peng,
Guyu Peng,
Thorsten Reemtsma
Dušan Materić,
Maija Leppänen,
Thorsten Reemtsma
Thorsten Reemtsma
Thorsten Reemtsma
Tomi Kanerva,
Thorsten Reemtsma
Thorsten Reemtsma
Thorsten Reemtsma
Thorsten Reemtsma
Thorsten Reemtsma
Guyu Peng,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Guyu Peng,
Guyu Peng,
Guyu Peng,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Thorsten Reemtsma
Thorsten Reemtsma
Dušan Materić,
Guyu Peng,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Thorsten Reemtsma
Thorsten Reemtsma
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Guyu Peng,
Thorsten Reemtsma
Thorsten Reemtsma
Thorsten Reemtsma
Thorsten Reemtsma
Thorsten Reemtsma
Guyu Peng,
Thorsten Reemtsma
Dušan Materić,
Thorsten Reemtsma
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Thorsten Reemtsma
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Dušan Materić,
Tomi Kanerva,
Tomi Kanerva,
Dušan Materić,
Guyu Peng,
Thorsten Reemtsma
Summary
Researchers measured inhalable microplastic exposure levels among workers in plastic and fiber factories, finding elevated concentrations of particles small enough to penetrate biological membranes and accumulate in tissues. The fraction of microplastics below 20 micrometers is of particular concern because these particles can induce inflammation and cellular damage. The study highlights that occupational settings in the plastics industry may represent a significant route of human microplastic exposure through inhalation.
Micro(nano)plastics enter the human body mainly through inhalable and oral uptake, and the fraction below 20 μm can penetrate biological membranes, accumulate in tissues, and induce cytotoxicity and inflammation. While inhaled indoor air may be a primary source of exposure, concentrations are potentially higher in occupational settings in the plastic and fiber factories. Here, external exposure to inhalable microplastics