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Micro and Nanoplastics–Plastisphere, Biotoxicity, Impact on Human Health, and Mitigation Strategies
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Researchers reviewed the presence and biotoxicity of micro- and nanoplastics in environmental samples and the food chain, including their role in forming the plastisphere, a human-made ecosystem of organisms living on plastic waste. The study examines the potential health impacts of these particles on humans and discusses mitigation strategies for reducing plastic pollution in both atmospheric and aquatic environments.
The Omnipresence of micro and nano plastics is associated with several risks to ecology and toxicity to humans. Nanoplastics are directly released into the environment or secondarily derived from plastic disintegration in atmospheric as well as aquatic environments. Nanoplastics are widely detected in environmental samples and the food chain, leading to the plastisphere - a human-made ecosystem consisting of organisms that can live on plastic waste. The potentially biotoxicity effects have recently been explored through the food chain. We explore biotoxicity due to plastisphere and its potential impact on human health via potential sources of nanoplastics and exposure routes to illustrate hazard identification of nanoplastics, cell internalization, and effects on intracellular target organelles. We review strategic approaches to mitigate or minimize the levels of micro- and nanoplastics in our surroundings to ensure environmental safety and improve human health and quality of life. In addition, challenges on the study of nanoplastics and future research areas are presented.
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Researchers highlighted an often-overlooked aspect of micro- and nanoplastic pollution: the microorganisms that colonize plastic particles and how they might affect human health. The study suggests that the microbial communities living on plastic surfaces, known as the plastisphere, could carry harmful bacteria into the human body through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact, representing an additional health risk beyond the plastics themselves.
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This comprehensive review examines the diverse health effects of nanoplastics, drawing on toxicology, environmental science, and epidemiology to document how these particles interact with human biological systems. The authors conclude that nanoplastics represent a growing public health concern requiring further investigation.
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