Preda Olivia-Teodora, Vlasceanu Ana-Maria, Andreescu Cristina Veronica, Tsatsakis Aristidis, Mezhuev Yaroslav, Negrei Carolina, Baconi Daniela Luiza
Department of Toxicology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 37 Dionisie Lupu Street, Sector 2, 20021 Bucharest, Romania.
Department of Foreign Languages, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 37 Dionisie Lupu Street, Sector 2, 20021 Bucharest, Romania.
Toxics. 2024 Oct 10;12(10):730. doi: 10.3390/toxics12100730.
The increasing awareness of the potential health risks associated with microplastics' (MPs) and nanoplastics' (NPs) presence in the environment has led to a significant rise in research focused on these particles over the past few years. This review focuses on the research on MPs'/NPs' presence and spread, pathways of exposure, toxicological effects on human health and legal framework related to MP/NP challenges. Several research projects have aimed to assess their potential harm to human health, focusing on different systems and organs. After exposure (independent of the pathway), these hazards reach the blood stream and concentrate in different organs. Further, they are responsible for harmful changes, having an immediate effect (pain, inflammation, or hormone imbalance) or lead to a long-term disease (e.g., infertility, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or cancer). Toxicological effects have been noticed at high concentrations of MPs, specifically polystyrene, the most widespread typical MP, but only short-term effects have been mostly studied. Significant quantities of consumed MPs have been discovered to have diverse detrimental effects, posing a threat to human welfare. The exact concentrations of microplastics that are inhaled and swallowed and then build up in the human body are still not known. Further investigation is necessary to evaluate the impact of MP/NP contamination at minimal concentrations and for prolonged durations.
在过去几年中，人们越来越意识到环境中微塑料（MPs）和纳米塑料（NPs）的存在可能带来健康风险，这使得针对这些颗粒的研究显著增加。本综述聚焦于微塑料/纳米塑料的存在与扩散、接触途径、对人类健康的毒理学影响以及与微塑料/纳米塑料相关挑战的法律框架等方面的研究。一些研究项目旨在评估它们对人类健康的潜在危害，重点关注不同的系统和器官。接触后（无论接触途径如何），这些有害物质会进入 bloodstream 并在不同器官中蓄积。此外，它们会导致有害变化，产生即时效应（疼痛、炎症或激素失衡）或引发长期疾病（如不育、慢性阻塞性肺疾病或癌症）。在高浓度的微塑料（特别是最普遍的典型微塑料聚苯乙烯）情况下已观察到毒理学效应，但大多仅研究了短期效应。已发现大量摄入的微塑料具有多种有害影响，对人类健康构成威胁。目前仍不清楚吸入和吞咽后在人体中蓄积的微塑料的确切浓度。有必要进行进一步研究，以评估极低浓度和长期暴露下微塑料/纳米塑料污染的影响。
