We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
A growing crisis for One Health: Impacts of plastic pollution across layers of biological function
AI summary Read the abstract
This review takes a One Health perspective to examine how plastic pollution affects biological systems at every level, from molecular and cellular processes to entire ecosystems. Researchers found that plastic particles ranging from nanometers to meters in size are present throughout all environments on Earth and can cause harm through both their physical properties and the chemicals they carry. The study identifies critical knowledge gaps in understanding how plastic effects at one biological scale interact with and amplify effects at other scales.
The global accumulation of plastic waste has reached crisis levels. The diverse and multilayered impacts of plastic on biological health prompts an evaluation of these effects from a One Health perspective, through which the complexity of these processes can be integrated and more clearly understood. Plastic particles ranging from nanometers to meters in size are found throughout every ecosystem on Earth, from the deepest marine trenches to the highest mountains. Plastic waste affects all layers of biological organization, from the molecular and cellular to the organismal, community, and ecosystem-levels. These effects are not only mediated by the physical properties of plastics, but also by the chemical properties of the plastic polymers, the thousands of additives combined with plastics during manufacturing, and the sorbed chemicals and microbes that are transported by the plastic waste. Using a One Health framework we provide an overview of the following themes: 1) ways in which plastic impacts global health across levels of biological organization, 2) how the effects of plastic interact between layers of biology, and 3) what knowledge gaps exist in understanding the effects of plastic within and between biological scales. We also propose potential solutions to address this growing crisis, with an emphasis on One Health perspectives that consider the oneness of animals, humans, and the environment.
More Papers Like This
Invisible Contamination: a One Health Perspective on Micro and Nanoplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
This systematic review takes a One Health approach to examine how micro- and nanoplastics affect humans, animals, and the environment as interconnected systems. The research shows that plastics accumulate across food chains and can cause toxic effects in multiple species, including humans. The One Health perspective is important because it recognizes that microplastic pollution in the environment inevitably becomes a human health problem.
Plastic Not-So-Fantastic: A One Health Approach to a Growing Crisis
AI summary Read the abstract
This One Health perspective reviews how microplastics affect environmental, animal, and human health, synthesizing evidence that these particles disrupt ecosystems and accumulate in tissues across species, underscoring the need for an integrated response.
Microplastics as Emerging One Health Threats: A Molecular and Ecotoxicological Review Across Aquatic Life with Emphasis on Fish
AI summary Read the abstract
This review pulls together existing research showing that tiny plastic particles polluting our water can seriously harm fish, damaging their organs, disrupting hormones, and even carrying toxic hitchhikers like heavy metals and pesticides deeper into their bodies. Since these contaminated fish end up in the food we eat, and microplastics are also found in our water, air, and soil, this pollution likely affects human health too — though more research is needed to fully understand the risks. The authors argue we need coordinated global action treating animal, environmental, and human health as connected (called "One Health") to tackle this growing problem.
A review on effects of microplastics on animal, environment and human health considering One Health perspective
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the effects of microplastics on animal, environmental, and human health from a One Health perspective, highlighting how microplastic contamination interconnects ecological, animal, and human health systems.
A One Health perspective of the impacts of microplastics on animal, human and environmental health
AI summary Read the abstract
This review takes a "One Health" approach to microplastics, examining how they affect animal health, human health, and the environment as interconnected systems. The authors caution that many lab studies use microplastic concentrations far higher than what is found in nature, making their results hard to apply to real-world risk. However, they note that microplastics can indirectly affect human health by disrupting ecosystems and soil processes that support food production and clean water.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.