State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China.
CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China.
Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2021 Oct;107(4):793-799. doi: 10.1007/s00128-021-03252-1. Epub 2021 Jul 5.
Microplastics (MPs) as a ubiquitous environmental pollutant have drawn growing attention, and it is concerning that children are more sensitive to MPs than adults. Unfortunately, information about the link between children and MPs is insufficient. Therefore, we review the sources and exposure routes of children to MPs and collect evidence for the potential risks. Children can ingest and/or inhale MPs derived from various foodstuffs and plastic products. Despite the limited knowledge on the toxicity to humans, current studies have proved the accumulation and translocation of MPs in different tissues and organs. Main damages including cytotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and immunotoxicity can be caused by pristine polymers and/or co-contaminants. There is much more to be understood about MPs, especially their health effects, and this study has made it clear that it is time to protect our future generations from the threat of MPs.
微塑料（MPs）作为一种普遍存在的环境污染物，引起了越来越多的关注，令人担忧的是，儿童比成年人对 MPs 更为敏感。不幸的是，关于儿童与 MPs 之间联系的信息还不够充分。因此，我们综述了儿童接触 MPs 的来源和途径，并收集了潜在风险的证据。儿童可能会摄入和/或吸入源自各种食品和塑料制品的 MPs。尽管关于 MPs 对人类的毒性知之甚少，但目前的研究已经证明 MPs 在不同组织和器官中的积累和转移。原始聚合物和/或共污染物可能导致细胞毒性、神经毒性和免疫毒性等主要损伤。关于 MPs，我们还有很多需要了解，尤其是它们对健康的影响，本研究清楚地表明，现在是时候保护我们的下一代免受 MPs 的威胁了。
