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Beyond Pollution: Microplastics as an Emerging Health Hazard
Summary
This review examined the growing body of evidence linking microplastic exposure—via ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact—to human health effects, covering accumulation in organs and potential contributions to inflammation, endocrine disruption, and toxicant delivery. The authors concluded that the combination of long-term biosphere persistence and rising yearly emissions makes microplastics an emerging health hazard deserving stronger regulatory attention.
The long-term existence of microplastics in biosphere and the sharp rise in yearly emissions have prompted concerns about the possible health effects on humans. The micro plastics (MPs) refer to plastic fibers, films and particles, which are less than five millimeters in diameter. The human contact with microplastics has become considerably increased due to the increase in the consumption of single-use food packaging and wrapping material. MPs have been identified in the human blood, excrement, and placenta. MPs and its derivatives influence the human health greatly because they cause the inflammation of the gastrointestinal and respiratory system, imbalances the body hormones level resulting in reproductive disorders, and cardiovascular diseases to increase. The overall toxicological investigations related to MPs have continued to increase. This review summarizes the latest toxicological data to relate MPs and human health, and the negative outcomes of MPs with their toxicity mechanism. The study will improve the knowledge in terms of health hazards caused by MPs to be used in comprehensive assessment of toxicity and will establish the fact to define policy actions.
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