VAZÕES ECOLÓGICAS: UM CAMINHO PARA O DESENVOLVIMENTO REGIONAL SUSTENTÁVEL

Microplastics (MPs) are materials derived from plastics with a size smaller than 5 mm.Environmental contamination with these materials has been growing significantly in the last century due to the substantial use of materials derived from synthetic polymers, harming several ecosystems on a global scale.The objective of this review was to list the main damages caused by microplastics in human health, highlighting the main organic systems.As a methodology, a narrative literature review was used with articles from the last five years.Human exposure to microplastics has been found to occur through ingestion of contaminated food and water and inhalation of dust.Studies show that exposure to these materials is significantly harmful to the body, causing generalized pro-inflammatory reactions, dysbiosis and sterility.Although the damage to the organism is undeniable, research with humans remains with a reduced sample number, restricting the results to studies in mice.