Biomedical Impacts of Microplastics : Pathways Into the Human Body, Cellular Responses, and Health Risks

Abstract

Microplastics have become an issue that affects many parts of the world including the environment and the human body. As plastic production grows, microplastics become an increasingly important factor to study and understand.

This review delves into defining microplastics, such as how they are formed and what their properties are. Next, it analyses how microplastics may interact with the human body once they have entered. Pathways that microplastics use to travel and interact with the body are explored, like protein coronae production within the body. Afterwards, studies of human samples with microplastics detected will be assembled and their implications regarding the concentrations, size, and location will be discussed.

Finally, toxicity of microplastics will be explored, considering factors like inflammatory response, oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and other health concerns, supported by evidence collected by studying human samples. This review also discusses limitations in microplastic research, such as methodology shortcomings and lack of standard methods and units.

This review concludes that microplastics can have adverse effects on the human body, but the adverse effects are limited. Evidence shows that additives used in microplastic manufacturing and other factors like pollutants that can be carried by microplastics pose a larger threat. Ultimately, it is clear that large change is needed in both manufacturing processes, consumer behaviour, and microplastic studying methodologies to push this field further.