Papers

20 results
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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

Plastic and Human Health: A Micro Issue?

This review evaluates the potential human health impacts of microplastic exposure through food and air, drawing on evidence from particle toxicology and related fields. Researchers note that if inhaled or ingested, microplastics could accumulate in tissues and cause localized inflammation, while chemical additives and adsorbed pollutants may leach out and cause additional toxic effects. The paper emphasizes that chronic, long-term exposure is likely the greater concern, though current data on actual human exposure levels remains limited.

2017 Environmental Science & Technology 3060 citations
Article Tier 2

Health impacts and detection challenges of human exposure to microplastics

This review examined the health impacts of human exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics through ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption. Researchers found that these tiny particles pose significant health risks due to their ability to carry toxic contaminants and interact with biological tissues. The study also highlights major challenges in accurately detecting and measuring microplastic exposure in humans, which limits our understanding of the full scope of health effects.

2025 Cancer Plus 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Science-based evidence on pathways and effects of human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics

This review summarizes current scientific knowledge on how humans are exposed to micro- and nanoplastics through food, water, and air, and what health effects these particles may cause. Researchers highlight significant gaps in understanding the biological fate of plastics once inside the body and the difficulty of accurately measuring real-world exposure levels. The study recommends developing standardized adverse outcome pathways to improve risk assessment for plastic particle exposure.

2024 Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology 4 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
Article Tier 2

Impact of microplastics on human health: exposure mechanisms and potential health implications

This review examines how microplastics enter the human body through food, drinking water, and inhaled air, and summarizes what is known about their potential health effects. Researchers found that microplastics have been detected in human stool samples, blood, and lung tissue, and may carry harmful chemicals and pathogens. The study highlights that while evidence of direct health impacts is still emerging, the widespread presence of microplastics in everyday exposure pathways warrants serious attention.

2024 Quality in Sport 7 citations
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
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

Exposição a Nano E Microplásticos E Seus Impactos Na Saúde Humana: Uma Revisão Da Literatura

This Brazilian literature review (in Portuguese) synthesizes evidence that nano- and microplastic particles can enter the human body through air, water, and food, and migrate to organs including the lungs, liver, brain, and intestines. Health effects on the respiratory, immune, gastrointestinal, and hepatic systems have been documented in both humans and other mammals, with the severity depending on particle type, size, and dose. The review reinforces growing concern that microplastic exposure is a systemic human health issue rather than a localized or minor hazard.

2023 Revista Ibero-Americana de Humanidades, Ciências e Educação 2 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

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
Article Tier 2

The potential effects of microplastics on human health: What is known and what is unknown

This review summarizes what is currently known about how microplastics might affect human health, noting that while contamination is widespread in food, water, and air, direct evidence of harm in humans is still limited. Studies in animals and cell cultures suggest microplastics could trigger immune responses, cause inflammation, and affect reproduction and development. The authors call for more rigorous clinical studies to determine whether the levels of microplastics that people actually encounter pose real health risks.

2021 AMBIO 419 citations
Article Tier 2

The Impact of Microplastics on Human Health: a Comprehensive Review

This comprehensive review summarizes how microplastics — found in air, water, and food — enter the human body through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact, and have been detected in organs including the lungs, liver, kidneys, placenta, and brain. Microplastic exposure has been associated with respiratory disorders, gut inflammation, reproductive toxicity, immune dysfunction, and potential neurological effects.

2022 Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research
Article Tier 2

Micro and nano-plastics, a threat to human health?

This review examines the threat micro- and nanoplastics pose to human health, discussing how these persistent particles accumulate in organs including lungs, the gastrointestinal system, and blood, and how their chemical composition and size influence toxicity.

2022 PubMed 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and nanoplastics: a global threat to health and the environment

This global review assesses the evidence for micro- and nanoplastics as threats to both environmental and human health, covering contamination of air, food, and water, and discussing the challenges of risk assessment given incomplete toxicological data.

2025 Environmental Research and Ecotoxicity
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Drinking Water and Food: a Threat to Human Health

This study reviews the primary exposure pathways through which microplastics and nanoplastics enter the human body—via drinking water, food, air, and household sources—and examines their toxic mechanisms across the digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, reproductive, and immune systems.

2025 Матеріали міжнародної науково-практиченої конференції Екологія Людина Суспільство
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

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

Microplastic and nanoplastic pollution and associated potential disease risks

This review summarizes evidence on potential health risks from human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics, covering metabolic, respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, liver, kidney, and skin disorders, as well as cancer and aging-related conditions. Researchers found that while animal and cell studies show numerous adverse effects, direct evidence linking microplastic exposure to human disease remains limited. The study emphasizes the need for better human exposure data and broader investigation of environmentally prevalent plastic types.

2025 The Lancet Planetary Health 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental exposure to microplastics: An overview on possible human health effects

This review examines the potential health effects of human exposure to microplastics through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact. Researchers found that microplastic exposure may cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune system disruption, with the body's inability to break down synthetic particles potentially leading to chronic inflammation. The study emphasizes that while evidence of harm is growing, microplastic toxicity varies greatly depending on particle properties, concentration, and individual susceptibility.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 2348 citations