Microplastics in human body: a narrative on routes of exposure to contamination and potential health effects

Microplastics (MPs) pollution has emerged as a significant global environmental concern, with these particles being detected across diverse ecosystems and infiltrating the food chain, raising concerns about their potential impact on human health. In recent years, studies have increasingly focused on understanding the possible harmful effects of MPs exposure on the human body. This review seeks to offer a detailed examination of the main pathways through which humans are exposed to MPs pollution. MPs, upon entering the human body, have been shown to move through various tissues and organs. Studies show that they can reach the liver, heart, lungs, and some other organs. Researchers have detected MPs in human feces and demonstrating that MPs ingested or inhaled can build up within the body, possibly triggering immune responses and localized toxicity. Prolonged exposure to MPs could lead to their accumulation, potentially causing DNA damage, oxidative stress, and inflammatory reactions.