Respiratory Toxicity of Microplastics: Mechanisms, Clinical Outcomes, and Future Threats

Airborne microplastics have turned out to be a new risk for the respiratory system. This is mainly because they are everywhere and come from many sources, both inside and outside places. Microplastics are tiny and have different shapes, so they get into the respiratory tract very deeply and settle in the bronchi and alveoli. Inhaling them can produce a series of harmful effects in the lungs such as oxidative stress, inflammation, injury to the respiratory epithelium, alteration in the immune response, and changes in the microbiome of the lungs. More and more, clinical findings are linking exposure to symptoms like cough, wheeze, asthma, and COPD exacerbations; reduced lung function; interstitial changes; higher risk of infection, and even possible long-term carcinogenicity. The recent discovery of microplastics in lung tissue as well as airway samples is an undeniable confirmation of human exposure. The utilization of cutting-edge analytical techniques, which include microscopy, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and Py-GC/MS has also contributed to the high detection accuracy. The ongoing rise of global plastic production is anticipated to lead to an increase in the risk of future respiratory effects, thereby emphasizing the need for monitoring, regulatory intervention, and long-term health studies.