From the Guidelines
Microplastics pose a significant threat to human health, particularly through ingestion or inhalation, which can lead to particle toxicity, chemical toxicity, and microbial hazards, as evidenced by recent studies 1. The dangers of microplastics are multifaceted and can be categorized into several key areas, including:
- Chemical toxicity: Microplastics can leach plastic-associated chemicals, such as additives and adsorbed toxins, which can cause harm to humans and the environment 1.
- Particle toxicity: When ingested or inhaled, microplastics can accumulate and cause an immune response, leading to inflammation and oxidative stress 1.
- Microbial hazards: Biofilms growing on microplastics can be a source of microbial pathogens, posing a risk to human health 1. The presence of microplastics in drinking water, air, and food has raised concerns about human exposure and the potential health effects, highlighting the need for further research and assessment of exposure levels 1. Key findings from recent studies include:
- Microplastics have been detected in tap water, bottled water, and other freshwater sources, with varying concentrations and methods of detection 1.
- The quality of microplastic research has been debated, with a need for standardized methods and quality assurance to evaluate the reliability of data 1.
- Regulatory efforts to examine microplastic safety have been raised, with a focus on ensuring safe drinking water and addressing the potential risks to human health 1.
From the Research
Dangers of Microplastics
- Microplastics are an emerging global environmental contaminant that can affect human health through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact 2, 3, 4.
- Exposure to microplastics can cause toxicity through oxidative stress, inflammatory lesions, and increased uptake or translocation, leading to potential health effects such as metabolic disturbances, neurotoxicity, and increased cancer risk 2, 3.
- Microplastics can also release their constituent compounds as well as those that are adsorbed onto their surface, which can lead to bioaccumulation in the human body and potentially cause a range of health issues, including respiratory disorders, neurological symptoms, and inflammatory bowel disease 3, 4.
- The ingestion of microplastics can cause internal bleeding, abrasion, ulcers, and blockage of the digestive tract in humans and animals 4.
- Microplastics in drinking water can also pose a threat to human health, although the potential impacts are not yet fully understood, and current drinking water treatment plants can remove some microplastics from raw water 5.
Human Health Risks
- Studies have shown that microplastics can induce apoptosis in cells and have genotoxic and cytotoxic effects, which can lead to a range of health issues, including respiratory disorders, neurological symptoms, and inflammatory bowel disease 3.
- The bioaccumulation of microplastics in the human body can potentially lead to reproductive and developmental toxicity, as well as immune and stress responses 6.
- However, definitive evidence linking microplastic consumption to human health is currently lacking, and further research is required to explore the potential implications of microplastics on human health 2, 3, 6.
Exposure Routes
- Microplastics can enter the human body through the respiratory system via inhalation, the digestive tract via consumption of contaminated food and water, or penetration through the skin via cosmetics and clothes contact 3, 4.
- Microplastics can also be ingested through the consumption of microbead-containing products, which can enter the food chain and disturb it 4.