Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2021 Oct;107(4):793-799.
doi: 10.1007/s00128-021-03252-1. Epub 2021 Jul 5.

Time to Safeguard the Future Generations from the Omnipresent Microplastics

Mengjie Wu  1 , Chen Tu  2 , Guangxia Liu  1 , Huan Zhong  3   4
Affiliations
Review

Time to Safeguard the Future Generations from the Omnipresent Microplastics

Mengjie Wu et al. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2021 Oct.

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) as a ubiquitous environmental pollutant have drawn growing attention, and it is concerning that children are more sensitive to MPs than adults. Unfortunately, information about the link between children and MPs is insufficient. Therefore, we review the sources and exposure routes of children to MPs and collect evidence for the potential risks. Children can ingest and/or inhale MPs derived from various foodstuffs and plastic products. Despite the limited knowledge on the toxicity to humans, current studies have proved the accumulation and translocation of MPs in different tissues and organs. Main damages including cytotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and immunotoxicity can be caused by pristine polymers and/or co-contaminants. There is much more to be understood about MPs, especially their health effects, and this study has made it clear that it is time to protect our future generations from the threat of MPs.

Keywords: Children; Exposure routes; Health impacts; Microplastics; Toxicity.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Abbasi S, Keshavarzi B, Moore F, Turner A, Kelly FJ, Dominguez AO, Jaafarzadeh N (2019) Distribution and potential health impacts of microplastics and microrubbers in air and street dusts from Asaluyeh County. Iran Environ Pollut 244:153–164 - DOI
    1. Adam AAH (2009) Milk adulteration by adding water and starch at Khartoum state. Pak J Nutr 8:439–440 - DOI
    1. Akhbarizadeh R, Dobaradaran S, Amouei Torkmahalleh M, Saeedi R, Aibaghi R, Faraji Ghasemi F (2021) Suspended fine particulate matter (PM2.5), microplastics (MPs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air: Their possible relationships and health implications. Environ Res 192:110339 - DOI
    1. Armstrong B, Hutchinson E, Unwin J, Fletcher T (2004) Lung cancer risk after exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: a review and meta-analysis. Environ Health Perspect 112:970–978 - DOI
    1. Barboza LGA, Frias JPGL, Booth AM, Vieira LR, Masura J, Baker J, Foster G, Guilhermino L (2019) Microplastics Pollution in the Marine Environment In: Sheppard C (ed) World Seas: an Environmental Evaluation, 2rd edn. Academic Press, pp. 329–351.

LinkOut - more resources