Microplastics occurrence, contamination, and effects on human health—a critical review

Due to the huge benefits and convenient usage of plastics in our lives, the global production and discharge of plastics have increased rapidly nowadays. Plastic characteristics are lightness, flexibility, water resistance, high strength, and ease of manufacture, then they are highly resistant to degradation and sustain in the environment for a prolonged period. Microplastic (MP) is available in the food chain via bioaccumulation in both animals and plants and from plastic food packaging. MP contamination is endangering animal life because living organisms can accumulate MPs in cells and tissues and thus also be a danger to the human food chain and public health. Therefore, we need to understand the knowledge about MPs in the food chain, and their effect on human health, including problems including oxidative stress , immune disease , and risk of cancer. Then we try to explore the mechanism of toxicity in the human body of MPs.