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A Critical Review on Effect of Macro, Micro and Nanoplastics Pollution on Human Health and their Control Measures
Summary
This review covers the sources and health effects of macro, micro, and nanoplastic pollution, noting that plastics contain over 10,000 chemical additives that can migrate into food and the body. Researchers summarize evidence that plastic particles have been found in human tissues and organs, where they can cause damage through oxidative stress and inflammation. The study calls for stronger regulation of single-use plastics and better public awareness of the health risks associated with plastic exposure.
Plastics have become an integral part of human life and have been used for multiple purposes in day-to-day life worldwide. Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are some of the commonly used plastics. Plastics are reused in many underdeveloped and developing countries without realizing the toxicity associated with their repeated use. There are single-use plastics (SUPs) designed to be used only once and then need to be discarded or recycled. Many substances were used while manufacturing plastics, including solvents and non-intentionally added substances (NIAS), such as impurities, oligomers, or degradation products, accounting for more than 10,259 chemicals. Plastics have high durability and extensive half-life with slow degradability. Large amounts of plastic accumulate in various environments, soil, water, and ecosystems due to improper disposal methods and poor recycling rates, affecting the food chain and living systems and causing severe health hazards to humans. The presence of plastics in body fluids, tissues, and organs and their toxicity causes severe damage to the organ systems, leading to several disease conditions. If food items are stored in plastics, chemicals are migrating to food items stored/ packed. It depends on the nature and complexity of the food material, contact time, temperature of the system, type of packaging contact layer, and properties of the migrants. Microbial bioremediation is considered to be more effective in controlling plastic pollution than conventional methods. Bacteria, fungi, and algae, individually or consortia of different species, are proven to be very effective in degrading different plastics.