Alziny Noha, Elgarhy Fadya M, Mohamed Ayan Musa, Shalaby Hager Yehia, Nounou Noran, Soliman Omnia, Abdelnaser Anwar
Institute of Global Public Health and Human Ecology, School of Sciences and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, Cairo 11835, Egypt.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025 Mar 5;22(3):380. doi: 10.3390/ijerph22030380.
Microplastics (MPs), defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, have emerged as a global environmental and public health crisis, infiltrating air, water, soil, and food systems worldwide. MPs originate from the breakdown of larger plastic debris, single-use plastics, and industrial processes, entering food. Emerging evidence underscores the ability of MPs to cross biological barriers, including the blood-brain barrier, triggering neuroinflammatory responses and contributing to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Polystyrene (PS), a common type of MP, activates microglial cells, releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukins, which increase neuronal damage. MPs have also been linked to cardiovascular diseases, with studies detecting polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in carotid artery plaques, increasing the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke. Furthermore, MPs disrupt endocrine function, alter lipid metabolism, and induce gut microbiome imbalances, posing multifaceted health risks. In the MENA region, MP pollution is particularly severe, with the Mediterranean Sea receiving an estimated 570,000 tons of plastic annually, equivalent to 33,800 plastic bottles per minute. Studies in Egypt, Lebanon, and Tunisia document high MP concentrations in marine ecosystems, with herbivorous fish like containing over 1000 MPs per individual due to the ingestion of contaminated seaweed. Despite these findings, public awareness and regulatory frameworks remain inadequate, with only 24% of Egyptians demonstrating sufficient knowledge of safe plastic use. This review emphasizes the urgent need for region-specific research, policy interventions, and public awareness campaigns to address MP pollution. Recommendations include sustainable waste management practices, the promotion of biodegradable alternatives, and enhanced monitoring systems to mitigate the health and environmental impacts of MPs in the MENA region.
微塑料（MPs）被定义为尺寸小于5毫米的塑料颗粒，已成为全球环境和公共卫生危机，渗透到世界各地的空气、水、土壤和食物系统中。微塑料源自较大塑料碎片、一次性塑料制品和工业过程的分解，进入食物中。新出现的证据强调了微塑料穿越生物屏障（包括血脑屏障）的能力，引发神经炎症反应，并导致阿尔茨海默病和帕金森病等神经退行性疾病。聚苯乙烯（PS）是一种常见的微塑料类型，可激活小胶质细胞，释放肿瘤坏死因子（TNF-α）和白细胞介素等促炎细胞因子，增加神经元损伤。微塑料还与心血管疾病有关，研究在颈动脉斑块中检测到聚乙烯（PE）和聚氯乙烯（PVC），增加了心肌梗死和中风的风险。此外，微塑料扰乱内分泌功能，改变脂质代谢，并导致肠道微生物群失衡，带来多方面的健康风险。在中东和北非地区，微塑料污染尤为严重，地中海每年接收约57万吨塑料，相当于每分钟33800个塑料瓶。埃及、黎巴嫩和突尼斯的研究记录了海洋生态系统中微塑料的高浓度，像食草鱼类因摄入受污染的海藻，每条鱼体内含有超过1000个微塑料。尽管有这些发现，但公众意识和监管框架仍然不足，只有24%的埃及人对安全使用塑料有足够的了解。本综述强调迫切需要开展针对该地区的研究、政策干预和公众宣传活动，以应对微塑料污染。建议包括可持续的废物管理做法、推广可生物降解的替代品，以及加强监测系统，以减轻微塑料对中东和北非地区健康和环境的影响。
