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The whole life journey and destination of microplastics: A review
Summary
This review traces the full journey of microplastics from their environmental sources through their various pathways into the human body, and what happens once they get inside. Once ingested, microplastics can disrupt gut bacteria, damage the intestinal barrier, and then spread to other organs where they cause inflammation and toxicity. The review highlights significant gaps in our understanding and emphasizes the need for more research on how microplastics move through the body and accumulate over time.
Recent reports indicate that ubiquitous microplastics (MPs) in the environment can infiltrate the human body, posing significant health risks and garnering widespread attention. However, public understanding of the intricate processes through which microplastics are transferred to humans remains limited. Consequently, developing effective strategies to mitigate the escalating issue of MPs pollution and safeguard human health is still challenging. In this review, we elucidated the sources and dynamic migration pathways of MPs, examined its complex interactions with other pollutants, and identified primary routes of human exposure. Subsequently, the events and alterations of gut microbiota, gut microbiota metabolism, and intestinal barrier after MPs enter the gut of organisms are unclosed. Additionally, it highlighted the ease with which MPs translocate from the intestine to other organs along with their biological toxicities. Finally, we also emphasized the knowledge gaps in the current research field and proposes future research directions. This review aims to enhance public awareness regarding microplastic pollution and provide valuable references for forthcoming research endeavors as well as policy formulation related to this pressing issue.