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Review: Microplastics: A threat for developing and repairing organs? — R1/PR7
Summary
This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) can interfere with organ development and repair across the human lifespan. MNPs have been detected throughout the body, including the placenta, raising concerns that early-life exposure could disrupt fetal programming and increase disease risk. The authors also assess how chemical additives that leach from plastic particles may compound the harm, concluding that MNPs have measurable effects on developing and regenerating organs.
Plastic production has greatly increased in the past decades and has become central to modern human life. Realization is dawning that plastics break down into smaller pieces resulting in micro- or nanoplastics (MNP) that can enter humans directly via the environment. Indeed, MNP have been detected in every part of the human body, including the placenta, which is concerning for development. Early developmental stages are crucial for proper growth and genome programming. Environmental disruptors in MNP can have detrimental effects during this critical window as well and can increase the risk of developing disease and dysfunction. In addition, MNP may impact situations in which developmental pathways are reactivated after birth such as during organ repair. Currently, there is no overview of how MNP can impair (human) development and repair. Therefore, we provide an extensive overview of available evidence on MNP impacting developmental and regenerative processes in various organs in humans and rodent models. In addition, we have included the impact of some additives that can leach from these MNP. We conclude that MNP and their additives can have modulating effects on developing and regenerating organs.