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Breathing under siege: a narrative review on the potential biological mechanisms linking micro- and nanoplastic exposure to lung diseases
Summary
This narrative review examines how inhaled micro- and nanoplastics from indoor and outdoor air — including from synthetic textiles and face masks — can trigger lung inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis, and outlines proposed mechanisms linking plastic inhalation to respiratory disease.
Atmospheric microplastics and nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) have become an increasing concern, with health impacts that remain insufficiently characterised and measured. Indoor airborne MP/NPs have raised greater alarm due to their origins in routine domestic activities and sources such as synthetic textiles, bed linen, face masks, electric dryers, and household laundry, posing a high inhalation risk that can lead to serious health consequences. These particles can enter the human body through various routes, with inhalation being the main pathway for both short- and long-term health effects. Additionally, they are engulfed by epithelial and immune cells, causing multiple pathological effects on the lungs, which can subsequently lead to or contribute to various disease entities. This narrative review thoroughly explores potential cellular, genetic, and immunological mechanisms by which MP/NPs impact the respiratory system, emphasising immune mediators and cytosolic pathways involved, and linking these mechanisms to various pulmonary diseases.