Microplastics as an emerging threat to human health: An overview of potential health impacts.

Mao Ye, Guanlin Li, Babar Iqbal, Xin Zhao, Hui Shi, Peng Wang, Qingxin Luo, Haowen Tan, Eun Hea Jho, Hanqiang Lu

Journal: Journal of environmental management 2025;387():125915

PMID: 40435609

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Microplastics have emerged as a pervasive environmental pollutant and can infiltrate the human body through ingestion via the digestive tract, inhalation via the respiratory system, and dermal contact, thereby posing significant implications for human health. Recent studies have confirmed the presence of microplastics in human tissues, including the placenta, blood, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, and reproductive organs, raising serious concerns about their potential toxicological effects. Due to the diverse sizes, types, shapes, and surface characteristics of microplastics, the pathways through which they reach various organs and their toxic effects on these organs can vary significantly. Despite growing evidence, the exposure pathways, toxic effects of microplastics on human health, and their underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. This review provides a comprehensive overview of microplastic exposure pathways, their potential health risks, the emerging evidence linking microplastics to diseases, and existing research gaps. Additionally, the present review highlights the risks of microplastics to children's health. Children are particularly at risk due to their frequent hand-to-mouth behaviors, higher ventilation rates relative to body size, and immature biological barriers, all of which enhance their susceptibility to microplastic exposure and toxicity. By providing an integrated overview of microplastic exposure and its health risks, this review seeks to inform the pressing need for multidisciplinary research to elucidate the mechanisms of microplastic toxicity and to develop regulatory frameworks aimed at mitigating microplastic-related hazards.

Address: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212008, People's Republic of China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, People's Republic of China.; School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, People's Republic of China.; National Engineering Research Center for Soil Nutrient Management and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, People's Republic of China.; Department of Agricultural and Biological Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea.; Faculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China.; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212008, People's Republic of China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212008, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: [email protected].; School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, People's Republic of China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, 215009, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125915

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MeSH Terms: Microplastics, Humans, Environmental Exposure