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Systematic Review on Indoor Microplastics: Unveiling Sources, Exposure Pathways, and Human Health Implications
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This systematic review reveals that indoor environments are a significant and often overlooked source of microplastic exposure. People spend most of their time indoors, where microplastics shed from textiles, furniture, and packaging accumulate in dust and air, meaning your home and office may be major contributors to the microplastics you breathe and ingest daily.
Indoor microplastics present a noteworthy and all-encompassing environmental issue that requires careful attention and contemplation. This comprehensive review navigates the intricate landscape of indoor microplastics, investigating their potential sources, pathways of exposure, and implications for human health. Commencing with an exploration of the origins and varieties of polymers within indoor environments, the review dissects commonplace products and manufacturing processes, identifying them as substantial contributors. Subsequent sections elucidate the diverse ways individuals encounter indoor microplastics, encompassing airborne dissemination, ingestion via dust and food, and skin contact with subsequent absorption. The critical evaluation of advancements in detection and measurement techniques addresses the complexities associated with accurately quantifying indoor microplastics. The review scrutinizes potential health risks linked to exposure, emphasizing cumulative effects and the vulnerability of specific populations. Prolonged contact with heightened concentrations of microplastics can bring about various consequences, including oxidative stress, DNA damage, organ dysfunction, metabolic disorders, immune responses, neurotoxicity, and reproductive and developmental toxicity. In the mitigation segment, strategies are outlined to curb microplastic presence at its source, manage indoor air quality, and advocate for policy and regulatory interventions. Identifying future directions and research gaps, the review serves as a roadmap for ongoing investigations. In summary, this study consolidates crucial discoveries, offers suggestions for future research initiatives, and emphasizes the critical need to understand and tackle the intricate network of indoor microplastics to safeguard both human health and environmental well-being.
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This review examines the often-overlooked issue of microplastic contamination in indoor environments, where people spend up to 90 percent of their time. Researchers found that indoor microplastic concentrations can be substantial, originating from synthetic textiles, furniture, and building materials. The study highlights a significant gap in understanding human microplastic exposure and calls for more research on the health risks of breathing in and ingesting these particles at home and work.
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This review examines microplastic contamination in indoor environments, noting that people are continuously exposed to microplastics in household dust, air, and from flooring, furniture, and textiles. Indoor microplastic exposure is a key route of human inhalation and ingestion that has received less attention than environmental contamination.
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This review examines microplastic and microfiber contamination in indoor environments like homes, schools, and workplaces, finding that indoor air and dust often contain more microplastics than outdoor air. Indoor sources like furniture, textiles, and synthetic materials constantly shed tiny plastic fibers that people inhale, ingest, and absorb through skin contact. The review highlights that indoor microplastic exposure, especially through breathing, may be a more significant route of human exposure than previously thought.
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