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Health Effects of Microplastic Exposures: Current Issues and Perspectives in South Korea
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This review from South Korea summarizes what is currently known about human exposure to microplastics through food, water, and air, and the potential health effects. The authors note that while microplastics are found everywhere from oceans to polar regions, research on their direct impacts on human health remains limited and more studies are needed on how particle size, shape, and type affect toxicity.
Microplastics are environmental pollutants that prevail in the oceans, remote islands, and polar regions. Exposure to microplastics presents a major emerging threat to the ecosystems due to their potential adverse effects. Herein, we reviewed the literature to provide an up-to-date synopsis of the current understanding of the sources, compositions, and adverse effects of microplastics in humans and the environment. Most studies on microplastics have focused on developing standardized methods for monitoring the occurrence, distribution, and movement of microplastics in the environment, as well as developing microplastic substitutes; however, although humans are exposed to microplastics via various routes, research on the adverse effects of microplastics in humans remains limited. Little is known about the impact of microplastics on human health and the toxic effects that may vary depending on the type, size, shape, and concentration of microplastics. Therefore, more research is needed to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of microplastic toxicity and related pathologies.
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This review summarizes current evidence on how micro- and nanoplastics enter the human body through food, air, and skin contact, and the cellular damage they may cause. While microplastic pollution is a recognized environmental hazard, the authors note that definitive evidence linking plastic particle exposure to specific health outcomes in humans is still limited and more realistic exposure studies are needed.
The potential effects of microplastics on human health: What is known and what is unknown
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This review summarizes what is currently known about how microplastics might affect human health, noting that while contamination is widespread in food, water, and air, direct evidence of harm in humans is still limited. Studies in animals and cell cultures suggest microplastics could trigger immune responses, cause inflammation, and affect reproduction and development. The authors call for more rigorous clinical studies to determine whether the levels of microplastics that people actually encounter pose real health risks.
Plastic and Human Health: A Micro Issue?
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This review evaluates the potential human health impacts of microplastic exposure through food and air, drawing on evidence from particle toxicology and related fields. Researchers note that if inhaled or ingested, microplastics could accumulate in tissues and cause localized inflammation, while chemical additives and adsorbed pollutants may leach out and cause additional toxic effects. The paper emphasizes that chronic, long-term exposure is likely the greater concern, though current data on actual human exposure levels remains limited.
Microplastics and Human Health: A Comprehensive Review on Exposure Pathways, Toxicity, and Emerging Risks
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This comprehensive review examines microplastic exposure pathways in humans, methods of detection, and the potential toxic effects on various biological systems. The study highlights growing evidence that microplastics can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact, and may affect multiple organ systems, though significant uncertainties remain about long-term health outcomes.
Potential human health risk assessment of microplastic exposure: current scenario and future perspectives
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This review assessed the potential human health risks from microplastic exposure across various pathways including ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. The study highlights that the small size of microplastics enables their global transport to even remote regions, and discusses current evidence on how microplastics may affect human health through physical, chemical, and biological mechanisms.
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