Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Impact of microplastics and nanoplastics on human Health: Emerging evidence and future directions

This review summarizes current evidence on how micro- and nanoplastics enter the human body through food, air, and skin contact, and the cellular damage they may cause. While microplastic pollution is a recognized environmental hazard, the authors note that definitive evidence linking plastic particle exposure to specific health outcomes in humans is still limited and more realistic exposure studies are needed.

2025 Emerging contaminants 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure scenarios for human health risk assessment of nano- and microplastic particles

This paper focuses on developing realistic exposure scenarios for assessing human health risks from nano- and microplastic particles. Establishing accurate models of how much plastic people actually encounter through food, air, and water is a critical step for determining whether current exposure levels pose real health dangers.

2025 Microplastics and Nanoplastics 16 citations
Review Tier 2

A review of data for quantifying human exposures to micro and nanoplastics and potential health risks

This review synthesizes data on human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics through air, water, and food, and examines the potential health effects. Researchers found evidence of respiratory, liver, immune, and gastrointestinal impacts in humans and mammals exposed to elevated plastic particle levels, with toxicity varying by plastic type and size. The study highlights that while growing evidence links plastic particle exposure to health concerns, significant data gaps remain in quantifying actual human intake and long-term risks.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 203 citations
Review Tier 2

Micro- and nanoplastics: origin, sources of intake and impact on human health (literature review)

This literature review synthesizes mechanisms by which micro- and nanoplastics interact with living organisms, examining their physicochemical properties, routes of human exposure, and documented health effects across multiple organ systems.

2025 Hygiene and Sanitation
Review Tier 2

Partial Scoping Review of Microplastic Exposure Publications

This scoping review maps the growing body of research on human microplastic exposure, covering how plastics enter food, water, and air. It identifies key gaps in the literature and highlights the need for standardized methods to better assess real-world human exposure levels.

2021 ISEE Conference Abstracts
Review Tier 2

Knowledge gaps on micro and nanoplastics and human health: A critical review

This critical review assessed current evidence on micro- and nanoplastic exposure and human health, concluding that while humans are ubiquitously exposed via food, water, and air, the long-term health effects of chronic low-level exposure remain poorly understood.

2021 Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering 41 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastics And Nanoplastics: Environmental Sources, Human Exposure Pathways, And Potential Health Impacts

This systematic review maps out the many ways microplastics and nanoplastics enter the human body, including through food, water, air, and everyday products. The researchers found these tiny particles are now present in nearly every environment, from oceans to our homes. The review highlights growing concerns about what this constant low-level exposure might mean for our long-term health.

2024 Revista Electronica de Veterinaria
Article Tier 2

Integrating aggregate exposure pathway and adverse outcome pathway for micro/nanoplastics: A review on exposure, toxicokinetics, and toxicity studies

This review brings together research on how micro and nanoplastics enter the human body, where they go once inside, and what harm they may cause, using a framework that links exposure pathways to health outcomes. Studies show these tiny particles can be absorbed through the gut, lungs, and skin, and may accumulate in organs like the liver and kidneys. The paper highlights that micro and nanoplastics can trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of hormones, though more research is needed to fully understand the long-term health risks.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure Pathways, Systemic Distribution, and Health Implications of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Humans

This review summarizes how micro- and nanoplastics enter the human body through food, air, and skin, then distribute to organs throughout the body. Research in animal and cell models shows these particles can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, brain toxicity, reproductive problems, and potentially cancer, though standardized methods for assessing real-world human health risks are still needed.

2025 Applied Sciences 12 citations
Article Tier 2

The exposure routes of micro- and nanoplastics and their potential toxic effects on human health

This review summarized current knowledge about how micro- and nanoplastics enter the human body through breathing, eating, and skin contact. The study discusses evidence from laboratory and animal studies suggesting these particles may affect the reproductive, respiratory, digestive, and immune systems, though researchers note that more human studies are needed to fully understand the health implications.

2024 Medycyna Pracy 7 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Exposure sources and pathways of micro- and nanoplastics in the environment, with emphasis on potential effects in humans: A systematic review

This systematic review maps out all the ways humans are exposed to microplastics — through drinking water, food, and the air we breathe. The research highlights that current water treatment technology does not fully filter out microplastics, and their accumulation in the body may pose risks to human health.

2023 Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Understanding the human health impacts of environmental micro- and nanoplastics

This review summarized current understanding of how micro- and nanoplastic particles enter the human body through food and air, accumulate in tissues, and cause health effects through oxidative stress, inflammation, and endocrine disruption, with a focus on gaps in knowledge about long-term human health impacts.

2025 University of Vienna
Review Tier 2

Microplastics and Human Health: A Comprehensive Review on Exposure Pathways, Toxicity, and Emerging Risks

This comprehensive review examines microplastic exposure pathways in humans, methods of detection, and the potential toxic effects on various biological systems. The study highlights growing evidence that microplastics can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact, and may affect multiple organ systems, though significant uncertainties remain about long-term health outcomes.

2026 Microplastics
Article Tier 2

Eco-toxicity of nano-plastics and its implication on human metabolism: Current and future perspective

This review examines the sources, bioaccumulation pathways, and potential health effects of nanoplastics on human metabolism. Researchers found that nanoplastics can enter the body primarily through ingestion of contaminated food and packaging, and evidence suggests they may interfere with metabolic pathways and contribute to organ dysfunction. The study highlights that significant knowledge gaps remain in assessing the human health risks of nanoplastic exposure.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 61 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

The current status of studies of human exposure assessment of microplastics and their health effects: a rapid systematic review

This rapid systematic review summarizes what is known about human exposure to microplastics and potential health effects based on studies published from 2000 to 2019. The researchers found that there is no standardized method for measuring microplastic exposure in humans, making it difficult to compare studies or draw firm conclusions. Despite the gaps, the available evidence suggests that people are regularly exposed to microplastics through food, water, and air, and more research is urgently needed on health effects.

2021 Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology 38 citations
Review Tier 2

A review on microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment: Their occurrence, exposure routes, toxic studies, and potential effects on human health

This review summarizes what is known about how microplastics and nanoplastics enter the human body through food, air, and skin contact, and what they do once inside. Studies on cells and animals show these tiny particles can cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, inflammation, and harm to the immune, digestive, reproductive, and nervous systems. The research makes clear that microplastics are not just an environmental problem but a direct concern for human health.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 379 citations
Article Tier 2

Scientific Evidence about the Risks of Micro and Nanoplastics (MNPLs) to Human Health and Their Exposure Routes through the Environment

Researchers reviewed the scientific evidence on exposure routes and health risks of micro- and nanoplastics to humans through environmental pathways. The study examined how plastic particles found in soil, water, and air enter the body primarily through ingestion and inhalation, and how they interact with the gastrointestinal tract. Evidence indicates that these particles can adsorb additives, heavy metals, and microorganisms on their surfaces, potentially contributing to toxic effects.

2022 Toxics 70 citations
Article Tier 2

A critical review of micro- and nanoplastic permeation in the human body

This critical review examines how micro- and nanoplastics enter and move through the human body after exposure through food, beverages, and air. Researchers synthesized evidence showing these particles have been detected in multiple human tissues and organs, raising concerns about their potential long-term health effects from chronic environmental exposure.

2026 Microplastics and Nanoplastics
Article Tier 2

Towards a risk assessment framework for micro- and nanoplastic particles for human health

This review proposes a framework for assessing the health risks of micro- and nanoplastics to humans, noting that current methods are inadequate because these particles come in countless types, sizes, and chemical compositions. The authors recommend focusing first on inhalation risks and suggest using existing approaches for evaluating low-toxicity particles and fibers as a starting point for plastic particle safety standards.

2024 Particle and Fibre Toxicology 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Human exposure to micro- and nanoplastic: biological effects and health consequence

This review summarized the biological effects and health consequences of human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics, covering routes of uptake (ingestion, inhalation, dermal), cellular toxicity mechanisms, and systemic health risks identified in recent experimental and epidemiological studies.

2023 Reviews in Biological and Biomedical Sciences 3 citations