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The Broad Spectrum of Biological Sciences
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This chapter reviews the health effects of microplastics and nanoplastics in biological systems, noting that MPs found in water, soil, and air range from 5 mm to 1 micrometer and can accumulate in different organs and transport harmful chemical additives. The authors discuss evidence that microplastics can trigger prolonged localized inflammation and immune dysregulation, including potential worsening of autoimmune conditions such as psoriasis.
Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are of environmental concern due to their potential harmful effects on human health, including gastrointestinal tract and autoimmune diseases. MPs found in water, soil, and air range from 5 mm to 1 μm, while NPs are 100 nm or smaller. An important aspect of understanding the harmful consequences of these substances is that they accumulate in different organs or transport harmful substances into cells. MPs and NPs have the capacity to elicit prolonged localised inflammatory reactions through skin contact or inhalation, due to their adsorbent properties and their capacity to transport chemical additives. These aspects can lead to a proinflammatory state by promoting the release of cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-17, which play critical roles in immune responses. Thus, MPs can initiate immunological reactions that can exacerbate autoimmune diseases. The resulting immunological dysregulation may worsen psoriasis by increasing inflammation and psoriatic lesions. From this angle, the various types and levels of MP exposure complicate the study of the effects of MPs on psoriasis. Therefore, although their effects on some organ systems associated with inflammation, such as the gut, have been extensively studied, their effects on chronic inflammatory conditions, such as psoriasis, have not been adequately investigated. In this context, the present study focuses on the potential effects of MPs and NPs on the development of psoriasis. Keywords: Microplastics, nanoplastics, psoriasis, inflammation, immune system
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