Otorkpa Oche Joseph, Otorkpa Chinenye Oche
Department of Public Health, School of Public Health, Texila American University, Georgetown, Guyana.
Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, Federal University, Lokoja, Nigeria.
Environ Anal Health Toxicol. 2024 Jun;39(2):e2024020-0. doi: 10.5620/eaht.2024020. Epub 2024 Jun 21.
Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) represent a pervasive environmental pollutant, raising significant concerns about potential health effects on humans. These tiny plastic particles have been detected across various environmental matrices, including air, water, soil, and food sources. While the adverse impacts of MNPs on wildlife and ecosystems are well-documented, understanding their effects on human health is still in its infancy. This study aims to comprehensively review existing case reports documenting adverse health outcomes associated with MNPs exposure. Through an extensive literature search, relevant articles were identified and analyzed. MNPs exposure primarily occurs through ingestion and inhalation routes. Health effects on the digestive system include oxidative stress, inflammation, dysbiosis, and metabolic disorders, with cases linking MNPs exposure to gastrointestinal injury and liver dysfunction. Respiratory system impacts include asthma exacerbation and hypersensitivity pneumonitis, particularly in industries involving plastic production. MNPs exposure has also been associated with nervous system conditions, reproductive toxicity, skeletal system interference, excretory system disruption, and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Despite limited case reports, the widespread presence of MNPs warrants further investigation into their potential health risks. This study underscores the urgency of understanding and mitigating the adverse health effects posed by MNPs exposure. Further research is imperative in order to comprehensively assess and address the dangers associated with MNPs contamination in the environment.
微塑料和纳米塑料（MNPs）是一种普遍存在的环境污染物，引发了人们对其对人类潜在健康影响的重大担忧。这些微小的塑料颗粒已在包括空气、水、土壤和食物来源在内的各种环境基质中被检测到。虽然MNPs对野生动物和生态系统的不利影响已有充分记录，但了解它们对人类健康的影响仍处于起步阶段。本研究旨在全面回顾记录与MNPs暴露相关的不良健康结果的现有病例报告。通过广泛的文献检索，确定并分析了相关文章。MNPs暴露主要通过摄入和吸入途径发生。对消化系统的健康影响包括氧化应激、炎症、微生物群落失调和代谢紊乱，有病例将MNPs暴露与胃肠道损伤和肝功能障碍联系起来。对呼吸系统的影响包括哮喘加重和过敏性肺炎，特别是在涉及塑料生产的行业中。MNPs暴露还与神经系统疾病、生殖毒性、骨骼系统干扰、排泄系统破坏以及心血管疾病的发病率和死亡率有关。尽管病例报告有限，但MNPs的广泛存在值得进一步调查其潜在的健康风险。本研究强调了了解和减轻MNPs暴露所带来的不良健康影响的紧迫性。为了全面评估和应对与环境中MNPs污染相关的危险，必须进行进一步的研究。
