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Small particles, large questions: unravelling the toxicity and potential health risks of PET micro-/nanoplastics
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A comprehensive literature review of PET micro- and nanoplastics found consistent evidence of human exposure, detection in human tissues, and biological effects including oxidative stress, inflammation, metabolic disruption, and genotoxicity, with smaller particles showing greater cellular uptake and biodistribution. Significant gaps in protocol harmonization and realistic exposure modeling currently prevent robust quantitative risk assessment of PET microplastic health impacts.
Despite the extensive use of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the public health implications of its micro- and nanoparticles (MNPs) remain poorly understood, raising credible concerns about human exposure and health risks. We conducted a comprehensive literature search to synthesise evidence on human exposure to PET MNPs, their detection in human tissues and biological fluids, and the human-relevant toxicity of PET particles in vitro and in vivo. Studies consistently identify PET MNPs across consumer and environmental sources, and several investigations have detected PET in human matrices, supporting the plausibility of systemic translocation across biological barriers. Toxicological findings consistently indicate size- and shape-dependent uptake and effects: smaller particles exhibit greater cellular internalisation, reactivity, and biodistribution, with predominant oxidative, inflammatory, metabolic, and genotoxic responses, whereas larger microplastics more often provoke mechanical irritation. Key gaps include limited protocol harmonisation, unrealistic exposure levels, scarce long-term/kinetic data, and insufficiently standardised, well-characterised PET MNPs preparations. While evidence for exposure, detection in human matrices, and biological activity is growing, these deficits still hinder robust cross-study comparisons and clinically meaningful quantitative risk assessment.
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Occurrence, analysis, and toxicity of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics: a review
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This review focuses on polyethylene terephthalate (PET), one of the most common types of plastic found as microplastic contamination in food, beverages, dust, wildlife, and human tissues. The authors found major inconsistencies in how researchers measure and detect PET microplastics, making it difficult to accurately assess health risks. Better standardized methods are needed to understand the true scope of PET contamination.
The Impact of Microplastics on Human Health: An Urgent Public Health Concern
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This review synthesizes current evidence on how microplastics form, enter the human body via inhalation and ingestion, accumulate in organs, and interact with biological systems, with emphasis on gastrointestinal and respiratory health impacts. The review highlights that certain polymer types like polyethylene and polypropylene pose elevated toxicity risk due to low biodegradability, underscoring microplastics as an urgent public health concern.
Micro/nanoplastics and human health: A review of the evidence, consequences, and toxicity assessment
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This review summarizes evidence that micro and nanoplastics have been found in multiple human organs and body fluids, where they can alter cell shape, damage mitochondria, reduce cell survival, and cause oxidative stress. The health effects depend heavily on the size, shape, and chemical makeup of the particles, with smaller nanoplastics generally posing the greatest risk because they penetrate deeper into tissues. The review provides a framework for assessing how dangerous different types of plastic particles are to human health.
Human Exposure to Nanoplastics and Its Toxicological and Environmental Implications
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Tiny plastic particles called nanoplastics are everywhere—in our water, air, and food—and this review pulls together existing research on how they get into our bodies (through eating, breathing, or even skin contact) and spread to different organs. The science suggests these particles may trigger cell damage, inflammation, hormone disruption, and other harmful effects, though researchers note it's still hard to measure exact exposure levels and long-term risks. The takeaway: nanoplastic pollution is a growing health concern worth watching, but scientists still need better tools to figure out exactly how much harm it's causing.
A critical viewpoint on current issues, limitations, and future research needs on micro- and nanoplastic studies: From the detection to the toxicological assessment.
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This critical review examines the current methods for detecting and characterizing micro- and nanoplastics in various environmental samples, as well as reported toxic effects from in vivo and in vitro studies. The authors found that while substantial effort has been made to understand microplastic behavior, the scientific community is still far from a complete understanding of how these particles behave in biological systems. The review calls for improved standardized protocols and more studies focused on uptake kinetics, accumulation, and biodistribution.
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