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Genotoxicity of Microplastics on Living Organisms: Effects on Chromosomes, DNA and Gene Expression
Summary
This review of over 85 studies finds that microplastics can damage DNA and chromosomes in living organisms through multiple mechanisms, including generating harmful reactive oxygen species and triggering inflammation. This genetic damage raises concerns about cancer risk and reproductive health, as DNA damage in reproductive cells could potentially be passed to future generations.
Microplastic exposure has become unavoidable, leading to their presence in living organisms. One area of particular concern is the genotoxicity of microplastics, which has implications for reproductive health and cancer development. This review aims to highlight the genotoxic effects of microplastics on different organisms, focusing on their impacts on chromosomes, DNA, and gene expression. More than 85 papers, primarily published in the last five years, have been reviewed. This review indicates that microplastics can cause clastogenesis and aneugenesis at the chromosome level. Clastogenesis results in chromosome damage, while aneugenesis leads to failures in chromosome segregation without causing direct damage. Additionally, microplastics can fracture and damage DNA. These effects arise from (1) the direct genotoxicity of microplastics through interactions with chromosomes, DNA, and associated proteins; and (2) their indirect genotoxicity due to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by oxidative stress induced by microplastics. Microplastics can trigger the activation of genes related to oxidative stress and the inflammatory response, leading to increased ROS production. Furthermore, they may alter gene expression in other biological processes. The genotoxicity linked to microplastics can stem from the particles themselves and their associated chemicals, and it appears to be both size- and dose-dependent.