Exposure to microplastics: An Emerging Concern with Known Consequences for Human Health
Microplastics have emerged as a pervasive environmental contaminant, yet the potential risks they pose to human well-being remain poorly understood. Several routes of exposure have been identified, including ingestion, inhalation, and dermal penetration, with the latter warranting equal attention as the former two. Notably, microplastics have been detected in human-derived biological samples, such as excrement, biofluids, and tissues. The majority of toxicological studies on microplastics have relied on laboratory rodents and human-derived cells, revealing potential targets including energy homeostasis, intestinal microflora, and the reproductive, immune, and nervous systems. Furthermore, the toxicity of microplastics on subcellular structures, such as lysosomes, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and the nucleus, has been demonstrated, highlighting the potential risks of microplastics to human health at the cellular level. Additionally, microplastics have been shown to act as carriers, amplifying the toxicity of other environmental contaminants, including plasticizers, metals, antibiotics, and microorganisms. Despite these findings, research on microplastics under environmentally realistic conditions is still in its infancy, leaving many unanswered questions regarding their potential impact on human health.