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Micro(Nano)Plastics as Carriers of Toxic Agents and Their Impact on Human Health
Summary
This review compiles evidence on how micro- and nanoplastics act as carriers of potentially toxic agents and enter the human body through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption. Evidence indicates that continuous exposure to these particles can lead to bioaccumulation and negative health alterations, with recent research detecting microplastics even in human placental tissue.
Currently, globally the demand and production of plastic items are increasing exorbitantly, generating a large amount of waste, and polluting the ecosystem, a site in which degradation processes are triggered, which give rise to smaller particles such as micro(nano)plastics (MNP). Continuous human exposure to these particles generates negative alterations in the host’s health. Three routes of MNP exposure or contact have been established: inhalation, ingestion of particles, and dermal absorption. Recently, it has been pointed out that microplastics (MP) can even be found in the human placenta. This chapter aims to compile and provide information on their role as conveyor vectors of agents potentially toxic to humans, mechanisms by which they enter the human body, their bioaccumulation, and health human effects.
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