Microplastics/nanoplastics and neurological health: An overview of neurological defects and mechanisms

Abstract

The widespread use of plastic products worldwide has brought about serious environmental issues. In natural environments, it's difficult for plastic products to degrade completely, and so they exist in the form of micro/nanoplastics (M/NPs), which have become a new type of pollutant. Prolonged exposure to M/NPs can lead to a series of health problems in humans, particularly toxicity to the nervous system, with consequences including neurodevelopmental abnormalities, neuronal death, neurological inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases. Although direct evidence from humans is still limited, model organisms and organoids serve as powerful tools to provide important insights. This article summarizes the effects of M/NPs on the nervous system, focusing on cognitive function, neural development, and neuronal death. Mechanisms such as neurotransmitter synthesis and release, inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, the gut-brain axis, and the liver-brain axis are covered. The neurotoxicity induced by M/NPs may exacerbate or directly trigger neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders. We particularly emphasize potential therapeutic agents that may counteract the neurotoxic effects induced by M/NPs, highlighting a novel future research direction. In summary, this paper cites evidence and provides mechanistic perspectives on the effects of M/NPs on neurological health, providing clues for eliminating M/NP hazards to human health in the future.

Keywords: Micro/nanoplastics; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neurodevelopmental disorders.