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Microplastics And Nanoplastics: Environmental Sources, Human Exposure Pathways, And Potential Health Impacts
Summary
This systematic review maps out the many ways microplastics and nanoplastics enter the human body, including through food, water, air, and everyday products. The researchers found these tiny particles are now present in nearly every environment, from oceans to our homes. The review highlights growing concerns about what this constant low-level exposure might mean for our long-term health.
Plastics have a profound impact on daily life, including packaging, medicine, and household items. Their disposal after single use and subsequent breakdown into micro- and nano-plastics raise significant concerns about their effects on ecosystems and human health. Microplastics and nanoplastics have emerged as ubiquitous contaminants in natural and human-made environments, including oceans, freshwater systems, and the atmosphere. These particles have been implicated in sources of human exposure including contaminated seafood, drinking water, and various food items, exacerbated by migration from packaging materials. This systematic review synthesizes current literature on the sources, pathways, and health impacts of these particles, focusing on human exposure and associated risks. Microplastics and nanoplastics can enter the human body primarily through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact, posing potential health risks such as oxidative damage, inflammation, and disruption of physiological processes in the gastrointestinal, central nervous system, nephrons and respiratory systems leading towards gastrointestinal disturbances, neurotoxicity, nephropathy, and respiratory diseases. This paper aims to inspire further studies to understand the full extent of microplastic and nanoplastic contamination, their interaction with biological pathways and the implementation of effective regulatory measures to mitigate human health risks associated with these particles.