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Integrating aggregate exposure pathway and adverse outcome pathway for micro/nanoplastics: A review on exposure, toxicokinetics, and toxicity studies
Summary
This review brings together research on how micro and nanoplastics enter the human body, where they go once inside, and what harm they may cause, using a framework that links exposure pathways to health outcomes. Studies show these tiny particles can be absorbed through the gut, lungs, and skin, and may accumulate in organs like the liver and kidneys. The paper highlights that micro and nanoplastics can trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of hormones, though more research is needed to fully understand the long-term health risks.
Micro/nanoplastics (MNPs) have emerged as a significant environmental concern due to their widespread distribution and potential adverse effects on human health and the environment. In this study, to integrate exposure and toxicity pathways of MNPs, a comprehensive review of the occurrence, toxicokinetics (absorption, distribution, and excretion [ADE]), and toxicity of MNPs were investigated using the aggregate exposure pathway (AEP) and adverse outcome pathway (AOP) frameworks. Eighty-five papers were selected: 34 papers were on detecting MNPs in environmental samples, 38 papers were on the ADE of MNPs in humans and fish, and 36 papers were related to MNPs toxicity using experimental models. This review not only summarizes individual studies but also presents a preliminary AEP-AOP framework. This framework offers a comprehensive overview of pathways, enabling a clearer visualization of intricate processes spanning from environmental media, absorption, distribution, and molecular effects to adverse outcomes. Overall, this review emphasizes the importance of integrating exposure and toxicity pathways of MNPs by utilizing AEP-AOP to comprehensively understand their impacts on human and ecological organisms. The findings contribute to highlighting the need for further research to fill the existing knowledge gaps in this field and the development of more effective strategies for the safe management of MNPs.