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Microplastics: the hidden danger
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This review assessed the growing body of evidence on how microplastics and nanoplastics may affect human health, drawing from studies across multiple databases over the past decade. Researchers found that these tiny plastic particles are now considered emerging contaminants that can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact, with potential effects on multiple organ systems. The study emphasizes that children may be particularly vulnerable and calls for more research into long-term exposure effects.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of microplastics/nanoplastics (MiP/NP) on human health. DATA SOURCE: The authors conducted a narrative review of articles published in English, Portuguese, French and Spanish in the last decade in the following databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE and SciELO. The keywords used in this search were: microplastics OR nanoplastics OR marine litter OR toxicology OR additives AND human health OR children OR adults. DATA SYNTHESIS: MiP is a group of emerging contaminants that have attracted increasing scientific interest and attention from society in the last decade due to their ubiquitous detection in all environments. Humans can be mainly exposed to MiP and NP orally, by inhalation, by dermal contact, as well as through systemic routes and cannot be neglected, especially in young children. The possible toxic effects in different systems are due to plastic particles, often combined with leachable additives and adsorbed contaminants. CONCLUSIONS: Unless the plastics value chain is transformed in the next two decades, the risks to species, marine ecosystems, climate, health, economies and communities will become unmanageable. However, alongside these risks lie unique opportunities to lead the transition to a more sustainable world.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics and Human Health: A Comprehensive Review on Exposure Pathways, Toxicity, and Emerging Risks
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This comprehensive review examines microplastic exposure pathways in humans, methods of detection, and the potential toxic effects on various biological systems. The study highlights growing evidence that microplastics can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact, and may affect multiple organ systems, though significant uncertainties remain about long-term health outcomes.
Nanoplastics: Unveiling Contamination Routes and Toxicological Implications for Human Health
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This review examined how nanoplastics, the tiniest plastic particles, enter the human body through breathing, eating, drinking, and skin contact. Evidence indicates these particles may contribute to a range of health concerns across multiple body systems, including the lungs, gut, heart, brain, and immune system, highlighting the need for more research into their long-term effects.
Microplastics And Nanoplastics: Environmental Sources, Human Exposure Pathways, And Potential Health Impacts
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This systematic review maps out the many ways microplastics and nanoplastics enter the human body, including through food, water, air, and everyday products. The researchers found these tiny particles are now present in nearly every environment, from oceans to our homes. The review highlights growing concerns about what this constant low-level exposure might mean for our long-term health.
Health impacts and detection challenges of human exposure to microplastics
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This review examined the health impacts of human exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics through ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption. Researchers found that these tiny particles pose significant health risks due to their ability to carry toxic contaminants and interact with biological tissues. The study also highlights major challenges in accurately detecting and measuring microplastic exposure in humans, which limits our understanding of the full scope of health effects.
Microplastics and nanoplastics in humans: exposure pathways, biological mechanisms, and implications for health risk assessment
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Tiny plastic particles called microplastics and nanoplastics are everywhere—in our air, food, and water—and this review pulls together existing research on how they might get into our bodies and affect our health, including triggering inflammation, disrupting gut bacteria, and interfering with hormones. The bigger takeaway is that scientists still don't have solid answers on how much exposure is actually harmful or which groups (like children or people with existing health conditions) might be most at risk. This matters because it means current safety guidelines are based on incomplete information, so more research is needed before we can say how worried we should really be.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.