Tracking Microplastics From Source to Impact: A Review of Environmental Presence, Exposure, Remediation, and Health Risks

Plastics are widely used for their affordability and versatility, but their accumulation in the environment raises growing concerns. Microplastics (MPs), formed intentionally or through degradation of larger plastics, are persistent and pervasive. This review explores recent findings on environmental occurrence, human exposure, health effects, and strategies for MP removal. Information on nanoplastics (NPs) was included when available. MPs from major plastic types are increasingly found in environmental compartments and in human fluids, tissues, and organs. Emerging evidence links MP exposure to adverse digestive and respiratory health effects. While some remediation strategies show potential in reducing environmental MP release, research is still limited on effectively minimizing human exposure. Future research should emphasize using well-characterized reference MP materials in human health and remediation studies. These materials must be relevant in size, shape, and polymer type to those identified in environmental and exposure studies, improving the accuracy and applicability of findings.