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Review
. 2024 Jan:99:104901.
doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104901. Epub 2023 Dec 6.

The potential impacts of micro-and-nano plastics on various organ systems in humans

Nurshad Ali  1 , Jenny Katsouli  2 , Emma L Marczylo  3 , Timothy W Gant  3 , Stephanie Wright  4 , Jorge Bernardino de la Serna  5
Affiliations
Review

The potential impacts of micro-and-nano plastics on various organ systems in humans

Nurshad Ali et al. EBioMedicine. 2024 Jan.

Abstract

Humans are exposed to micro-and-nano plastics (MNPs) through various routes, but the adverse health effects of MNPs on different organ systems are not yet fully understood. This review aims to provide an overview of the potential impacts of MNPs on various organ systems and identify knowledge gaps in current research. The summarized results suggest that exposure to MNPs can lead to health effects through oxidative stress, inflammation, immune dysfunction, altered biochemical and energy metabolism, impaired cell proliferation, disrupted microbial metabolic pathways, abnormal organ development, and carcinogenicity. There is limited human data on the health effects of MNPs, despite evidence from animal and cellular studies. Most of the published research has focused on specific types of MNPs to assess their toxicity, while other types of plastic particles commonly found in the environment remain unstudied. Future studies should investigate MNPs exposure by considering realistic concentrations, dose-dependent effects, individual susceptibility, and confounding factors.

Keywords: Health effects; Human exposure; Microplastic; Nanoplastics; Organ system; Toxicity.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interests The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Potential effects of MNPs on different organ systems in humans.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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