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Implicaciones de la exposición a microplásticos en salud humana. Revisión bibliográfica
Summary
This Spanish-language review summarizes health implications of microplastic exposure, covering how microplastics enter the human body through food, water, and air, and what biological effects have been observed. The review notes that virtually all products in modern life contain some form of plastic.
Prácticamente todo lo que nos rodea incluye en su fabricación algún tipo de plástico, y el uso y consumo de estos elementos no ha dejado de aumentar en las últimas décadas. \n Además de contaminar, los plásticos no se reciclan adecuadamente, favoreciendo la degradación de los mismos y su paso a los seres vivos, especialmente a los de ecosistemas acuáticos, encontrándose en la mayoría de ellos partículas plásticas de diferentes tamaños (micro y/o nanoplásticos), que pueden pasar al ser humano a través de su ingesta. Se han cuantificado partículas de micro y nanoplásticos en diferentes entornos, organismos y productos destinados al consumo humano, por lo que todos estamos expuestos a estos contaminantes a través de diferentes vías de exposición (aire, agua y dieta). \n La evidencia de alteraciones producidas en los animales expuestos a microplásticos está documentada. Se sabe que atraviesan tejidos y órganos, desencadenando estrés oxidativo, inflamación y daño celular, así como respuestas inmunes localizadas, entre otros deterioros. Además, las partículas muy finas son capaces de atravesar las membranas celulares, la barrera hematoencefálica y la placenta. A estos efectos hay que añadir los causados por la exposición de los monómeros químicos que los constituyen, además de otros contaminantes químicos y biológicos agregados o adsorbidos durante su producción, o procedentes del medioambiente. \n La revisión bibliográfica realizada en el presente trabajo constata que aún no se disponen de suficientes estudios que demuestren la peligrosidad de estas partículas para la salud humana y hace falta realizar más estudios epidemiológicos con este objetivo. No obstante, en situaciones ocupacionales particulares donde la exposición a estos contaminantes es mayor sí parece existir un mayor riesgo de enfermedad. Mientras que estos estudios se llevan a cabo y se establecen las relaciones de causalidad, es necesario establecer un control más estricto de los mismos, además de implementar medidas para reducir su presencia medioambiental, abordando este problema emergente bajo la perspectiva del “principio de precaución”. Algunos países ya han empezado a aplicar medidas regulatorias más estrictas sobre productos puntuales, pero aun claramente insuficientes al coste en salud que estos contaminantes están ya produciendo. \n \n Palabras clave: microplásticos, nanoplásticos, salud humana \n \nAbstract \n Practically everything that surrounds us includes some type of plastic, most of this plastic is used to manufacture other things or is directly made of it. The use and consume of these elements are continuously increasing in the recent decades. \n In addition to pollution, plastics are not recycled properly, favoring their degradation and their passage to living beings, especially those who live in aquatic ecosystems in which plastic particles of different sizes (micro and / or nanoplastic) have been found, and it can pass to the human being through its intake. Micro and nanoplastic particles have been quantified in different environments, organisms and products destined for human consummation, promoting that we are all exposed to these pollutants through different exposure routes (air, water and alimentation). \n The evidence of alterations produced in animals which were exposed to microplastics is been documented. It is known that it goes through tissues and organs, triggering oxidative stress, inflammation and cell damage, as well as localized immune responses, among other impairments. In addition, this fine particles of plastic are able to cross the cell membranes, the blood-brain barrier and the placenta. To these effects it must be added those caused by the exposure of the chemical monomers that constitute them, furthermore to other chemical and biological contaminants added or adsorbed during their production, or those coming from the environment. \n This bibliographic review carried out confirms that there are still not enough studies that demonstrate the danger of these particles for human health and it is necessary to carry out more epidemiological studies with the same objective. However, in particular occupational situations where are bigger exposure to these pollutants it seems clear to have an increased risk of disease. While these studies are carrying out and are established by a causality relationships, it is necessary to set up a stricter control over them, in addition to implementing measures to reduce their environmental presence, and approaching this emerging problem from the perspective of a "principle of precaution". Some countries have already begun to apply stricter regulatory measures on specific products, but they are still insufficient comparing to the cost of health that these pollutants are already producing. \n \n Key words: microplastic, nanoplastic, human health
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