Micro(nano)plastics: an Emerging Burden for Human Health

Overview

Journal Int J Biol Sci

Specialty Biology

Date 2024 Nov 4

PMID 39494332

Authors

Isabella Donisi

Antonino Colloca

Camilla Anastasio

Maria Luisa Balestrieri

Nunzia DOnofrio

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The escalation of plastic pollution represents a global environmental and health problem. Important toxic effects have been attributed to the increasing diffusion of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) derived from the degradation of plastics. These particles have been ubiquitously observed in the environment, with humans being continuously exposed via ingestion, inhalation and skin contact. Nonetheless, the cellular homeostasis imbalance induced by micro- and nano- plastics (MNPs) in human health has been only recently shown, while most evidence and molecular mechanisms derived from studies and models. To date, the majority of available results testified the accumulation of MNPs in the cardiovascular, nervous, reproductive and digestive systems, and recently clear evidence about cardiovascular toxic effects of MNPs has been provided in humans. In this context, this review aims to provide a comprehensive update about the most recent studies reporting the effects of MNPs in different models, focusing on the available evidence in the main areas of study related to human health. Hopefully, this review will contribute to raise awareness about the toxicity and oxidative alteration exerted by MNPs, supporting the elaboration of new strategies to counteract plastic pandemics.

References

Yang S, Li M, Kong R, Li L, Li R, Chen J . Reproductive toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics. Environ Int. 2023; 177:108002. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108002. View

Yang S, Cheng Y, Chen Z, Liu T, Yin L, Pu Y . In vitro evaluation of nanoplastics using human lung epithelial cells, microarray analysis and co-culture model. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2021; 226:112837. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112837. View

Weber A, Schwiebs A, Solhaug H, Stenvik J, Nilsen A, Wagner M . Nanoplastics affect the inflammatory cytokine release by primary human monocytes and dendritic cells. Environ Int. 2022; 163:107173. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107173. View

Shi W, Cao Y, Chai X, Zhao Q, Geng Y, Liu D . Potential health risks of the interaction of microplastics and lung surfactant. J Hazard Mater. 2022; 429:128109. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.128109. View

Li Y, Li Y, Li J, Song Z, Zhang C, Guan B . Toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics to human embryonic kidney cells and human normal liver cells: Effect of particle size and Pb enrichment. Chemosphere. 2023; 328:138545. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138545. View

Zhang Y, Tian L, Chen J, Liu X, Li K, Liu H . Selective bioaccumulation of polystyrene nanoplastics in fetal rat brain and damage to myelin development. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2024; 278:116393. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116393. View

Wang K, Du Y, Li P, Guan C, Zhou M, Wu L . Nanoplastics causes heart aging/myocardial cell senescence through the Ca/mtDNA/cGAS-STING signaling cascade. J Nanobiotechnology. 2024; 22(1):96. PMC: 10918962. DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02375-x. View

Li P, Liu J . Micro(nano)plastics in the Human Body: Sources, Occurrences, Fates, and Health Risks. Environ Sci Technol. 2024; . DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08902. View

Liu S, Guo J, Liu X, Yang R, Wang H, Sun Y . Detection of various microplastics in placentas, meconium, infant feces, breastmilk and infant formula: A pilot prospective study. Sci Total Environ. 2022; 854:158699. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158699. View

10.

Mu Y, Sun J, Li Z, Zhang W, Liu Z, Li C . Activation of pyroptosis and ferroptosis is involved in the hepatotoxicity induced by polystyrene microplastics in mice. Chemosphere. 2021; 291(Pt 2):132944. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132944. View

11.

Gao B, Shi X, Li S, Xu W, Gao N, Shan J . Size-dependent effects of polystyrene microplastics on gut metagenome and antibiotic resistance in C57BL/6 mice. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2023; 254:114737. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114737. View

12.

Lei L, Wu S, Lu S, Liu M, Song Y, Fu Z . Microplastic particles cause intestinal damage and other adverse effects in zebrafish Danio rerio and nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Sci Total Environ. 2017; 619-620:1-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.103. View

13.

Kadac-Czapska K, Osko J, Knez E, Grembecka M . Microplastics and Oxidative Stress-Current Problems and Prospects. Antioxidants (Basel). 2024; 13(5). PMC: 11117644. DOI: 10.3390/antiox13050579. View

14.

Li Y, Liu Y, Chen Y, Yao C, Yu S, Qu J . Combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and lipopolysaccharide on testosterone biosynthesis and inflammation in mouse testis. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2024; 273:116180. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116180. View

15.

Zhang K, Yang J, Chen L, He J, Qu D, Zhang Z . Gut Microbiota Participates in Polystyrene Microplastics-Induced Hepatic Injuries by Modulating the Gut-Liver Axis. ACS Nano. 2023; 17(15):15125-15145. DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c04449. View

16.

Dong C, Chen C, Chen Y, Chen H, Lee J, Lin C . Polystyrene microplastic particles: In vitro pulmonary toxicity assessment. J Hazard Mater. 2019; 385:121575. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121575. View

17.

Basini G, Bussolati S, Andriani L, Grolli S, Ramoni R, Bertini S . Nanoplastics impair in vitro swine granulosa cell functions. Domest Anim Endocrinol. 2021; 76:106611. DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2021.106611. View

18.

Yee M, Hii L, Looi C, Lim W, Wong S, Kok Y . Impact of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Human Health. Nanomaterials (Basel). 2021; 11(2). PMC: 7920297. DOI: 10.3390/nano11020496. View

19.

Wang X, Jia Z, Zhou X, Su L, Wang M, Wang T . Nanoplastic-induced vascular endothelial injury and coagulation dysfunction in mice. Sci Total Environ. 2023; 865:161271. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161271. View

20.

Catarino A, Macchia V, Sanderson W, Thompson R, Henry T . Low levels of microplastics (MP) in wild mussels indicate that MP ingestion by humans is minimal compared to exposure via household fibres fallout during a meal. Environ Pollut. 2018; 237:675-684. DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.02.069. View