Microplastics in the Environment: Intake through the Food Web, Human Exposure and Toxicological Effects

Abstract

Recently, studies on microplastics (MPs) have increased rapidly due to the growing awareness of the potential health risks related to their occurrence. The first part of this review is devoted to MP occurrence, distribution, and quantification. MPs can be transferred from the environment to humans mainly through inhalation, secondly from ingestion, and, to a lesser extent, through dermal contact. As regards food web contamination, we discuss the microplastic presence not only in the most investigated sources, such as seafood, drinking water, and salts, but also in other foods such as honey, sugar, milk, fruit, and meat (chickens, cows, and pigs). All literature data suggest not-negligible human exposure to MPs through the above-mentioned routes. Consequently, several research efforts have been devoted to assessing potential human health risks. Initially, toxicological studies were conducted with aquatic organisms and then with experimental mammal animal models and human cell cultures. In the latter case, toxicological effects were observed at high concentrations of MPs (polystyrene is the most common MP benchmark) for a short time. Further studies must be performed to assess the real consequences of MP contamination at low concentrations and prolonged exposure.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in the Environment: Occupational and Exposure Events, Effects on Human Health and Fertility

“…[ 5 ]. Moreover, these POPs can be easily absorbed by microplastics, which become vectors of these organic contaminants, facilitating their dispersion in different environmental compartments [ 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”

Riverine macroplastic gradient along watercourses: A global overview

“…Concerning macroplastic studies, only a few studies were carried out in freshwater ecosystems. Particularly, Bucci et al (2020) and Al-Zawaidah et al (2021) reviewed about MA occurrence in freshwaters. Also, Blettler et al (2018) reviewed the knowledge gaps and underestimated topics, (i.e., interaction among MA and freshwater biota).…”

“…Then, van Emmerik and Schwarz (2020) discussed the current state of riverine plastic debris, also giving a background on the origin and fate of plastics and factors affecting transport and spatiotemporal variation of plastic debris along rivers. Finally, Al-Zawaidah et al (2021) reviewed the occurrence of MA in freshwaters, describing the various factors affecting macroplastic dynamics along rivers. However, as the literature has been focused on MP for years, only few research studies have reviewed riverine macroplastics in rivers (Bucci et al, 2020;van Emmerik and Schwarz, 2020;Winton et al, 2020;Al-Zawaidah et al, 2021).…”

Deeply in Plasticenta: Presence of Microplastics in the Intracellular Compartment of Human Placentas

“…MPs were found to interfere with energy production and lipid metabolism, increasing oxidative stress and neurotoxic response [ 34 ]. Their presence has been associated with toxic effects on cell cultures, causing apoptosis, inflammation, mitochondrial and lysosomal dysfunction, and genotoxicity [ 35 ]. Their interaction with the immune system appears to be disruptive, with alterations on a genetic level for the expression of genes involved in the immune response.…”