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Micro/nanoplastics and eye health: a review
Summary
This review examined the potential effects of micro- and nanoplastics on eye health, finding that ocular exposure can occur through direct contact and oral ingestion, with particles potentially penetrating biological barriers to reach eye tissues. Evidence indicates that these particles may induce adverse effects on the eye surface, elevate intraocular pressure, and cause retinal abnormalities, primarily through oxidative stress and inflammation mechanisms.
Micro/nanoplastics (M/NPs) have become pervasive environmental pollutants, posing significant risks to human health through various exposure routes, including ingestion, inhalation, and direct contact. This review systematically examined the potential impacts of M/NPs on ocular health, focusing on exposure pathways, toxicological mechanisms, and resultant damage to the eye. Ocular exposure to M/NPs can occur via direct contact and oral ingestion, with the latter potentially leading to the penetration of particles through ocular biological barriers into ocular tissues. The review highlighted that M/NPs can induce adverse effects on the ocular surface, elevate intraocular pressure, and cause abnormalities in the vitreous and retina. Mechanistically, oxidative stress and inflammation are central to M/NP-induced ocular damage, with smaller particles often exhibiting greater toxicity. Overall, this review underscored the potential risks of M/NPs to ocular health and emphasized the need for further research to elucidate exposure mechanisms, toxicological pathways, and mitigation strategies.