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Microplastic pollution and health: what we know and what the pediatrician can do
Original title: Inquinamento da microplastiche e salute: cosa ne sappiamo e cosa può fare il pediatra
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This Italian-language review for pediatricians outlines how microplastics have been detected in human organs and tissues throughout the body, discusses the potential but still unclear health consequences, and calls on pediatric clinicians to reduce plastic use in clinical settings and advise families on limiting plastic exposure.
Plastic is a daily-use material, cheap and versatile, widely used since the 1950s. However, plastic is poorly biodegradable and tends to persist over time in the environment. The ubiquitous diffusion of plastic has been shown in seas, soil, air, and at all food chain levels. Plastic degradation particles (microplastics) enter the human body and are documented in various organs and tissues to overcome the cell barrier. Although their effects on health are not yet clear, these microplastics can potentially affect health. Pediatricians can play an important role in reducing plastic use by recreating plastic-free environments in their clinics and outpatient offices and by promoting advice to families in order to improve their lifestyles and reduce their plastic consumption and its diffusion in the environment.
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