Co esponding au ho : Ra ind a B. Malabadi
Copy igh © 2025 Au ho (s) e ain he copy igh o his a icle. This a icle is published unde he e ms o he C ea i e Commons A ibu ion License 4.0.
Mic oplas ic in ood chain-Majo heal h issues-An upda e
Raju K. Chalanna a 1, Ra ind a B. Malabadi 1, 2, *, Di aka MS 3, Swa hi 1, Kisho e S. Ka amchand 4, A inash A.
Kamble 5, Ki an P. Kolka 6, Ka en Vi iana Cas año Co onado 7 and An onia Neidilê Ribei o Munhoz 8
1 Depa men o Applied Bo any, Mangalo e Uni e si y, Mangalagango i-574199, Mangalo e, Ka na aka S a e, India
2 Mille Bl d, NW, Edmon on, Albe a, Canada.
3 Food Science and Nu i ion, Depa men o Biosciences, Mangalo e Uni e si y, Mangalagango i- 574199, Ka na aka
S a e, India.
4 Depa men o Zoology, Poo nap ajna College, Au onomous, Udupi- 576101, Ka na aka S a e, India.
5 Depa men o Indus ial Chemis y, Mangalo e Uni e si y, Mangalagango i- 574199, Ka na aka S a e, India.
6 Depa men o Bo any, Ka na ak Science College, Dha wad-580003, Ka na aka S a e, India.
7 Chie Communica ions O ice (CCO), Resea ch Issues and CO-Founde o LAIHA (La in Ame ican Indus ial Hemp
Associa ion), and CEO- CANNACONS, Bogo a, D.C., Capi al Dis ic , Colombia
8 Depa men o Chemis y, En i onmen and Food, Fede al Ins i u e o Amazonas, Campus Manaus Cen o, Amazonas,
B azil- 69020-120
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 26(01), 4067-4074
Publica ion his o y: Recei ed on 11 Ma ch 2025; e ised on 13 Ap il 2025; accep ed on 20 Ap il 2025
A icle DOI: h ps://doi.o g/10.30574/wja .2025.26.1.1531
Abs ac
Mic oplas ics, which a e iny plas ic pa icles measu ing less han 5 mm in leng h, ha e been ound o ha e signi ican
nega i e impac s on bo h human heal h and he en i onmen . Due o he ala ming inc ease in con amina ion wo ldwide
and excessi e p oduc ion o plas ics and syn he ic ma e ials, he e is an u gen need o in es iga e he e ec s o hose
subs ances on human heal h. I has been obse ed ha he e exis s a de ini e co ela ion be ween exposu e o mic o-
and nanoplas ic pa icles and he onse o se e al cance s and o he heal h diso de s. O pa icula conce n a e plas ic
addi i es, chemical compounds ha a e in en ionally o unin en ionally added o plas ics o imp o e unc ionali y o as
esidual componen s o plas ic p oduc ion. Mic oplas ics and nanopa icles en e he human body e en when
consuming d inking wa e , ood and du ing no mal b ea hing. Con amina ion may occu also h ough he mig a ion o
nanoplas ic pa icles om he packaging ma e ials in o ood p oduc s. Mic o- and nanoplas ic ibe s a e also p esen in
o he oods, including bee , honey, able sal , ea bags and suga . The sou ces o ai bo ne mic oplas ic include syn he ic
ab ics om clo hing, ubbe i e e osion, household objec s, building ma e ials, land ills, ab asi e powde s and 3D
p in ing. Mic oplas ic in he ood chain ha e po en ial heal h isks on human includes, cance , immuno oxici y, in es inal
diseases, pulmona y diseases, ca dio ascula disease, in lamma o y diseases, loss o male and emale s e ili y, ad e se
e ec s on p egnancy and ma e nal exposu e o p ogeny. The ac ual impac o mic oplas ics and nanoplas ics on human
heal h canno be clea ly and comple ely de ined, since i equi es ex ensi e, mul i-disciplina y long- e m esea ch.
Keywo ds: Bisphenol A (BPA); Cance ; Food Chain; Mic oplas ic; Male s e ili y, Nanoplas ic; Ph hala es
1. In oduc ion
The beginnings o he ex ensi e use o plas ics da e back o he ea ly 1950s. I is es ima ed ha o e 9 billion ons o
plas ic ha e al eady been p oduced, 3/4 o which cu en ly cons i u es was e[1-30]. In he pas ew yea s, o e 360
million me ic ons (M ) o plas ic ha e been p oduced wo ldwide each yea , 40% o which is single-use packaging [1-
40]. Mos o i is disca ded in o he en i onmen [1-25-56]. The e m "mic oplas ics" was i s coined 19 yea s ago by
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Thompson e al. (2005) [36], who s udied oceanic plas ic pollu ion in he UK [1-30–65]. Since hen, mic oplas ics ha e
a ac ed he a en ion o he scien i ic communi y, go e nmen s, and non-go e nmen al o ganiza ions,[1-30–64].
Recen ly, mic oplas ics ha e been ound in eshwa e ecosys ems, including i e s, lakes, es ua ies, we lands, and
g oundwa e [1-30–65]. Plas ic p oduc s consis o a ious kinds o polyme s in combina ion wi h e sa ile and
p ocessable mix u es o a a ie y o chemicals (> 13,000) [1-30–65]. O e all, mo e han 3200 monome s, addi i es,
p ocessing aids (e.g., lub ican s), and non-in en ionally added subs ances used in plas ic manu ac u ing po en ially
exhibi haza dous p ope ies [60]. Addi i e chemicals imp o ed he pe o mance, unc ionali y, s abili y and du abili y
o polyme s and plas ic p oduc s. Howe e , i plas ic p oduc s a e exposed o wa e , he chemicals can leach om he
p oduc s and become bio-a ailable [60-65]. Mic oplas ics consis s o pa icles ha ange in size om 0.1 o 5000 µm,
and nanopa icles anges om 0.001 o 0.1 µ m, which a e wa e -insoluble solid pa icles o polyme ma ices o egula
o i egula shape [1-40-65]. Mic oplas ics we e gene ally classi ied in o p ima y and seconda y ypes based on hei
o igin[1-40-65]. The p ima y mic oplas ics we e he i gin plas ic p oduc ion pelle s, which ex ensi ely exis in
domes ic and indus ial p oduc s like hand and acial cleane s, cosme ics, and showe gels [1-30–65]. P ima y
mic oplas ics pa icles a e he ing edien s o cleaning agen s, oo hpas es, sc ubs, hand soaps o biomedical p oduc s[1-
50-65]. The seconda y pa icles a e hose ob ained by agmen a ion p ocesses unde he in luence o UV adia ion o
physicochemical p ocesses, such as pH o salini y [50–65]. These include household ga bage, plas ic ilms o emissions
om ehicles [1-30–65]. Mic oplas ic pollu ion is becoming a majo issue o human heal h due o he ecen disco e y
o mic oplas ics in mos ecosys ems [1-30–65]. Mic oplas ics ha e been ound in biological samples such as aeces,
spu um, sali a, blood and placen a [1-30–65]. Cance , in es inal, pulmona y, ca dio ascula , in ec ious and
in lamma o y diseases a e induced o media ed by mic oplas ics [1-30–65]. Mic oplas ics, iny plas ic pa icles, can
en e he ood chain h ough a ious ou es, including di ec inges ion by ma ine and e es ial o ganisms, and can
also be anspo ed h ough he a mosphe e and soil, ul ima ely a ec ing human heal h and ecosys ems[1-30–
65]. Mic oplas ics a e iny pa icles o syn he ic polyme s and plas ics and hei p oduc s ha a e less han 5
millime e s in size[1-30–65]. Mic oplas ics can ei he be in en ionally added o p oduc s, o example in cosme ics o
cleaning p oduc s, o be a was e p oduc om he decomposi ion o la ge plas ic pa s [1-30–65]. Mic oplas ics en e
he en i onmen h ough many di e en pa hways, whe e hey a e di icul o deg ade and can pose a po en ial h ea
o wildli e and human heal h[1-30–65].
Mic oplas ics induce oxic e ec s on humans and animals, such as cy o oxici y, immune esponse, oxida i e s ess,
ba ie a ibu es, and geno oxici y, e en a minimal dosages o 10 μg/mL [1-30–65]. Inges ion o mic oplas ics by
ma ine animals esul s in al e a ions in gas oin es inal ac physiology, immune sys em dep ession, oxida i e s ess,
cy o oxici y, di e en ial gene exp ession, and g ow h inhibi ion [1-30–65]. Fu he mo e, bioaccumula ion o
mic oplas ics in he issues o aqua ic o ganisms can ha e ad e se e ec s on he aqua ic ecosys em, wi h po en ial
ansmission o mic oplas ics o humans and bi ds [1-30–65]. Mic oplas ics, which a e iny plas ic pa icles measu ing
less han 5 mm in leng h, ha e been ound o ha e signi ican nega i e impac s on bo h human heal h and he
en i onmen [1-30–64]. In he ollowing sec ion, his e iew pape o li e a u e highligh s he e ec o oxici y o
mic oplas ic in he ood chain pa icula ly on human heal h has been upda ed and discussed.
2. Mic oplas ics: Toxic Chemicals
The polyme backbone o loa ing plas ics b eaks down and can elease low molecula -weigh dissol ed o ganic ma e
like ca boxylic acids, monome s, mo e complex hyd oca bons o halogena ed compounds unde simula ed ma ine
condi ions [1-30–64]. The pho odeg ada ion can be a key mechanism o agmen a ion o plas ic deb is loa ing in he
oceans [1-30–65]. Addi ionally, pho odeg ada ion o plas ics induces he o ma ion o mic o- and nanoplas ic pa icles
[1-30–65]. Mic oplas ics pollu ion poses a heal h conce n [61]. The mo e plas ic c ea ed, he mo e he subsequen
gene a ion will ha e o ace an i epa able heal h dange [1-65]. Howe e , esea ch has mos ly concen a ed on a
small numbe o plas ic compounds, a wide a ie y o heal h condi ions, including endoc ine dis up ion, ep oduc i e
oxici y, cance isk, p oblems wi h me abolism and nu i ion, and in e e ence wi h neu ode elopmen ha e been
epo ed [1-30–65]. Mic oplas ics is he mos o en composed o polyp opylene (PP), polys y ene (PS) o polye hylene
(PE) [1-30–65]. Polyp opylene is ela i ely chemically esis an . I has a c ys alline s uc u e wi h a high le el o
igidi y. I s ha dness is due o he p esence o me hyl g oups in he molecula chain [1-30–65]. Polyp opylene is
cha ac e ized by a high mel ing poin [61]. Polyp opylene comes in h ee ypes, as a PP homopolyme (HPP) con aining
p opylene monome s in a semi-c ys alline solid o m, as a andom copolyme (RCP), con aining, apa om p opylene,
a small addi ion o e hylene as a co-monome , and an impac copolyme (ICP), which con ains a mix u e o HPP and RCP
wi h e hylene con en o abou 50% [1-30–65]. Polyp opylene Polys y ene is highly he moplas ic [1-30–65]. I is used
o he p oduc ion o oys, oo hb ushes, CDs o polys y ene [1-30–61]. Polys y ene is also used in he p oduc ion o
ood con aine s. I is o med as a esul o he polyme iza ion o s y ene componen s [1-30–65]. Polys y ene is
he mos able, and he e o e p o ides excellen he mal insula ion as i is also chemically esis an [1-30–65].
Polye hylene consis s o long chains o med by e hylene monome s. I is a s able polyme [1-30–65]. In addi ion, i is
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an excellen elec ical insula o , cha ac e ized by high s eng h and lexibili y [1-30–65]. I is he mos popula plas ic
[61]. Addi i es a e subs ances ha gi e plas ic he desi ed p ope ies, and hey include ine o ein o cing ille s,
plas icize s, an ioxidan s, UV s abilize s, lub ican s, dyes and lame e a dan s [1-30–61]. Ine ille s p o ide s eng h,
imp o e low and sh inkage o plas ics and include asbes os, glass, u ile, silica, alc, clays, chalk, aluminum oxide, soo
and ca bon nano ubes [1-30–65]. Plas icize s a e placed be ween he chains o molecules, ensu ing an imp o emen in
elas ici y, mobili y and plas ici y [1-30–65]. S abilize s ensu e he mal and chemical s abili y and hey consis o
o ganic o ino ganic sal s o ba ium, lead and cadmium [1-30–65]. Dyes a e used o gi e colo o he polyme . They a e
di ided in o ino ganic con aining hea y me als and o ganic ones con aining ph halocyanine, azo, and an h aquinone
g oups and many o he ch omopho es [1-30–65]. Calcium and magnesium s ea a e a e componen s o lub ican s and
adhesi es, and hei addi ion acili a es he low o he subs ance [1-30–65]. Flame e a dan s con ain chlo ine,
b omine, phospho us and aluminum hyd oxide o p o ec he ma e ial in he e en o i e [1-30–65]. Howe e , many
o hese addi i es, a e oxic. They adhe e o he mic oplas ic su ace and in e ac wi h he en i onmen [1-30–65]. In
ecen yea s, he oxici y o hea y me als ha adhe e o mic oplas ics has been s udied and he epo s ob ained p o ed
high concen a ions o C , Ni, Fe, Co, Cd, Al, Zn, Mn, and Cu [1-30–65]. Polychlo ina ed biphenyls (PCBs) a e o med by
he usion o 1 o 10 hyd ogen a oms wi h chlo ine a oms in he biphenyl ing [1-30–65]. Polycyclic a oma ic
hyd oca bons (PAHs) a e compounds whose s uc u e consis s o many a oma ic ings. [1-30–65]. On he mic oplas ic
su ace, he p esence and quan i ica ion was demons a ed o 3-me hylphenan h ene, 9-me hylphenan h ene, 2-
me hylphenan h ene, 1-me hylphenan h ene, py ene, benzo[b] luo ene, 2-me hylpy ene, 1-me hylpy ene,
benzo[b] luo an hene, ch ysenic, 4-me hylpy ene, benzo[j] luo an hene, benzo[a]an h acene, benzo[k] luo an hene,
benzo[e]py ene, benzo[a]py ene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]py ene, benzo[ghi]pe ylene, 4H-cyclopen a[de ]phenan h ene,
co onene, pe ylene, luo an hene, phenan h ene, and an h acene [1-30–65]. The e o e, he addi ion o polycyclic
a oma ic hyd oca bons (PAHs) may lead o he inc ease in he oxici y o mic oplas ics [1-30–65]. Bisphenol A (BPA),
a diphenylme hane de i a i e, is a componen o he monome in polyca bona e and is used in he p oduc ion o ood
and d ink con aine s [1-30–65]. Ne e heless, i is highly uns able, which esul s in easy leaching, which co ela es wi h
i s abundan p esence in he aqua ic en i onmen [1-30–65]. Despi e his, he e is s ill insu icien esea ch on he
adso p ion o bisphenol A (BPA) in mic oplas ic [1-30–65].
A cause o conce n is bisphenol A (BPA), s uc u al simila i ies o ho mones, which allows mimicking and n e e ence
wi h he endoc ine sys em [1-30–65]. Ph hala es a e es e de i a i es o 1,2-benzenedica boxylic acid. Ph hala es a e
s ongly lipophilic, which makes hem i mly abso bed in he soil, which also allows us o conclude ha hey ha e a high
so p ion capaci y in mic oplas ics [1-30–65]. Many ph hala es, in pa icula (di (2-e hylhexyl) ph hala e (DEHP) and
dibu yl ph hala e (DBP)), a e oxic chemicals used in he p epa a ion o mic oplas ics[1-30–63]. Plas ic has nume ous
addi i es ha imp o e i s p ope ies. The mos in es iga ed species a e bisphenol A (BPA), inyl chlo ide (VC), and
benzyl bu yl ph hala e (BBP) [1-30–65]. In ecen yea s, i has been shown ha exposu e o BPA du ing p egnancy
educes he su i al a e and bi h weigh o o sp ing [1-30–65]. I also exe s a ho monal e ec , as i mimics he
es ogenic ho mone, hus inc easing he likelihood o de eloping ca bohyd a e diso de s and ca dio ascula disease[1-
30–65]. A lis o ca cinogenic, neu o oxic, and ho mone-dis up ing chemicals a e common cons i uen s and was e
p oduc s o plas ic manu ac u e, and hey in a iably make hei way in o en i onmen ia wa e , land, and ai pollu ion
[1-30–65]. Vinyl chlo ide (in PVC), dioxins (in PVC), benzene (in polys y ene), ph hala es and o he plas icize s (in PVC
and o he s), o maldehyde, and bisphenol-A, o BPA, a e some o he mos well-known subs ances (in polyca bona e)
[1-30–65].
3. Mic oplas ics: Majo Heal h Issues
Since 1950, abou 9 billion ons o plas ics ha e been p oduced globally [1-30–65]. Abou hal o he plas ics ha e ended
up in land ills o ha e been dumped in he na u al en i onmen [1-5], and only less han 10 % ha e been adequa ely
ecycled [1-30–64]. On he basis o li e a u e su ey by Baj e al., (2022) [1], mic o- and nanoplas ic pa icles can be
ound almos e e ywhe e, being especially ha m ul o humans [1-50]. Thei abso p ion, p ima ily ia inhala ion and
diges i e ou es, migh lead o a dange ous accumula ion o hose subs ances wi hin he human body[1]. Due o he
ala ming inc ease in con amina ion wo ldwide, excessi e p oduc ion o plas ics and syn he ic ma e ials, he e is an
u gen need o in es iga e he e ec s o hose subs ances on human heal h [1-63]. So a , i has been obse ed ha nano-
and mic oplas ics migh be ex emely ha m ul, leading o se ious heal h condi ions, such as cance s o a ious human
body sys ems [1-65]. On he basis o li e a u e su ey by Baj e al., (2022) [1], mic o- and nanopla ics ha e been al eady
epo ed o be po en ial ca cinogenic/mu agenic subs ances ha migh cause DNA damage, leading o ca cinogenesis[1-
65]. Thus, he e ec s o mic o and nanoplas ics exposu e on human heal h a e cu en ly being in es iga ed ex ensi ely
o es ablish clea ela ionships be ween hose subs ances and heal h consequences[1-50]. Fu he mo e, Baj e al.,
(2022) [1] a e o he opinion ha he e exis s a de ini e co ela ion be ween exposu e o mic o- and nanoplas ic
pa icles and he onse o se e al cance s [1-65]. One o he s udy epo ed ha when consuming ui and ege ables,
exposu e o plas ic eaches up o 80 g mic oplas ics pe day [1-30–61]. Mic oplas ics and nanopa icles en e he
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human body e en when consuming d inking wa e and du ing no mal b ea hing [1-30–63]. Humans a e liable o small
plas ic pa icles ia he ollowing h ee ou es: o al (in ake o con amina ed wa e and ood), espi a o y and de mal
( ia skin cleanse s/ acial sc ubbe s) [1-30–61]. The p ima y plas ic en y poin in o he human sys ems is he
gas oin es inal ac [1-30–63]. In olun a y plas ic inges ion by humans may happen ia he ood chain wi h
consump ion o con amina ed ood and d inks [1-30–61]. Con amina ion may occu also h ough he mig a ion o
nanoplas ic pa icles om he packaging ma e ials in o ood p oduc s[1-30–61]. Mic o- and nanoplas ic ibe s a e also
p esen in o he oods, including bee , honey, able sal , ea bags and suga [1-30–65]. Addi ional exposu e esul s om
d inking wa e in plas ic bo les [1-30–63]. In bo led mine al wa e om nine coun ies, he con amina ion wi h
mic oplas ic was es ima ed om 0 o o e 10,000 pa icles/L (size ange o 6.5–100 µm) [1-30–65]. Acco ding o he
li e a u e su ey, mic o- and nanoplas ic pa icles a e p esen in widesp ead ma ine p oduc s, including ish, mussels,
lobs e s, oys e s, sea cucumbe s, and scallops [1-30–61]. One o he s udy con i med ha 20 mic oplas ic pa icles pe
10 g o human s ool samples, which con i ms hei in olun a y inges ion [1-30–65]. Ano he en y poin o plas ics
in o he human body is ia he espi a o y sys em [1-30–65]. The sou ces o ai bo ne mic oplas ic include syn he ic
ab ics om clo hing, ubbe i e e osion, household objec s, building ma e ials, land ills, ab asi e powde s and 3D
p in ing [1-30–65]. Nanosized pa icles bea he po en ial o pene a e he capilla y blood sys em and be dis ibu ed
h oughou he human body [1-30–65]. In i o s udies ha e shown ha nanoplas ic pa icles a e abso bed by al eola
epi helial cells [1-30–65]. The las ou e o exposu e o plas ics in o he human body is h ough he skin [1-30–65].
Skin cons i u es he ou e shell o he body ha p o ec s he body agains hea , ligh , inju y, and in ec ion [1-30–65].
Skin can come in o con ac wi h plas ic pa icles, especially when cosme ic p oduc s con aining nanoplas ic a e used [1-
30–65].
S udies ha e epo ed ha plas ic pa icles can a ec he di e si y and composi ion o gu mic obio a [1-30–65]. Wi h
espec o he e ec s on he ca dio ascula sys em, a s udy on de eloping zeb a ishes p o ed ha he main si e o
accumula ion o nanoplas ic pa icles was he pe ica dial sac [1-30–65]. The ep oduc i e impac o mic o- and
nanoplas ic has been in es iga ed in a a ie y o o ganisms[1-30–65]. The main a ge o plas ic pa icles seems o be
he emb yo li e cycle in luencing he emb yo and o sp ing de elopmen [1-30–65]. Mo eo e , spe m cells may be
damaged by oxida i e s ess and in lamma ion caused by plas ic pa icles [1-30–65]. The p esence o mic o- and
nanoplas ic in he ne ous sys em may exe a oxic e ec ha is caused mainly by oxida i e s ess and inhibi ion o he
AchE enzyme [1, 10, 61]. AchE is esponsible o he deg ada ion o ace ylcholine, hence, o no mal ne e signal
ansmission [1-30–65]. I s inhibi ion may lead o o e exci a ion o he neu ons and neu ological diso de s. Nanosized
pa icles a e po en ially mo e neu o oxic, as smalle sizes may mo e easily pene a e he blood–b ain ba ie [1-30–
65]. Bo h animal s udies and in i o ials showed ha he accumula ion o plas ic pa icles leads o in lamma ion [1-
30–65]. Mic o- and nanoplas ic pa icles, ecognized as o eign agen s by he immune sys em, may induce he immune
esponse and ul ima ely cause hos oxici y[1-30–65].
In human gas ic adenoca cinoma, lung ca cinoma, leukemia, and his iocy ic lymphoma cells, polys y ene nanopa icles
inc ease he exp ession o IL-6 and IL-8 genes [1-30–65]. Mac ophages a e he main phagocy ic cells ha up ake plas ic
pa icles[1-30–65]. Oxida i e s ess can induce cell apop osis, which is conside ed he key pa hway o mic o- and
nanoplas ic oxici y[1-30–65]. Mo eo e , plas ic pa icles ha e a ious unc ional g oups and chemical bonds (such as
phenyl g oups, amide g oups), which may be ela ed o oxida i e s ess [1-30–65]. Many in i o s udies ha e iden i ied
inc eased oxida i e s ess and apop osis in human cells, including hema ological cells, al eola epi helial cells, lung
cance cells, and colon ca cinoma cells, ollowing polys y ene exposu e[1-30–65]. Plas ic pa icles can also abso b
subs ances such as me als, PAHs, ph hala es, PFAAS om he su ounding en i onmen [1-30–65]. Al hough hese
subs ances a e ei he no abso bed o deg ade apidly in he human body, plas ic pa icles acili a e hei pene a ion
and make hem s ay in he body longe [1-30–65]. The ad e se e ec s include acu e in lamma ion o he li e caused by
plas ic-associa ed me al o ca cinogenici y o PAHs [1-30–65].
The plas ic indus y emi s a la ge amoun o ha m ul gaseous pollu an s in o he ai , including ca bon monoxide, dioxins,
and hyd ogen cyanide [1-30–65]. These gases damage he ai and hei p esence a la ge concen a ions in he ai is
ha m ul o bo h human and animal heal h [1-30–65]. Bo h ca cinogenic and non-ca cinogenic e ec s can impac human
heal h; heal hca e p ac i ione s should be awa e o hei local ecycling plan s [1-30–65]. Exposu e can occu om
inges ion, de mal con ac , as well as ia inhaling. Howe e , occupa ional wo ke s p esen highe isks o exposu e o
he oxic elemen s, po en ially al e ing and inhibi ing hei me abolic unc ions[1-30–65].
Endoc ine dis up o s a e subs ances ha can al e and in e e e wi h endoc ine unc ioning, also known as
ho monally ac i e agen s, endoc ine dis up i e chemicals, o endoc ine dis up ing compounds [1-30–65]. Cance ous
umou s, bi h abno mali ies, and o he de elopmen al diseases can esul om hese changes [1-30–65]. Endoc ine
dis up o s, which can be ound in a wide ange o consume and indus ial p oduc s, migh in e e e wi h he syn hesis,
sec e ion, anspo , binding, ac ion, o elimina ion o na u al ho mones in he body and a e esponsible o
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 26(01), 4067-4074
4071
de elopmen , beha io , e ili y, and he main enance o homeos asis, as well as he onse o malignan and non-
malignan diseases [1-30–65]. Polychlo ina ed biphenyls may pose a signi ican h ea [1-30–63]. Excep o solid
umo s, mic o- and nanoplas ics pa icles migh also be a h ea ega ding he po en ial onse o liquid malignancies. A
ecen s udy by Leslie e al. (2022) [56] p o ed ha plas ic pa icles (p ima ily polye hylene e eph hala e,
polye hylene, and polyme s s y ene, along wi h poly (me hyl me hac yla e)) migh accumula e in he human
bloods eam [1-30–65].
Inhala ion o plas ic pa icles may cause a ious lung eac ions, including al eoli is, pe sis en pneumonia,
in lamma o y, and ib o ic modi ica ions in he b onchial and pe i-b onchial issue and lesions in he in e al eola sep a
(pneumo ho ax) [1-30–65]. The ac ual impac o mic oplas ics and nanoplas ics on human heal h canno be clea ly
and comple ely de ined, since i equi es ex ensi e, mul i-disciplina y long- e m esea ch [1-30–61]. Undoub edly,
plas ic’s ca cinogenic/mu agenic impac on cells has al eady been b oadly epo ed [1-30–63]. Excep being po en ially
ha m ul hemsel es, mic oplas ics migh also be con amina ed wi h o he subs ances, including ha m ul o ganic
chemicals o ace me als, whose exposu e o li ing o ganisms migh be oxic [1-30–61]. So a , he knowledge
ega ding he ela ionship be ween he exposu e o nano- and mic oplas ics and he onse o ca cinogenesis is ela i ely
sca ce and has only been in es iga ed wi h ega ds o se e al ypes o cance , such as hepa ocellula ca cinoma o
panc ea ic cance [1-30–65].
Consuming mic oplas ics ha e been ound o p omo e in lamma ion and p olong a h i ic oo swelling in mice
challenged wi h he chikungunya i us [1-30–65]. Mic oplas ics a e a g owing conce n as a ca ego y o o ganic
pollu an s ha ha e gained signi ican a en ion om esea che s since 2014 [1-30–65]. As he impac o mic oplas ics
con inues o inc ease, i is essen ial o de elop sus ainable solu ions o mi iga e hei ha m ul e ec s and educe hei
p esence in he en i onmen [1-30–65]. To inc ease public awa eness o mic oplas ic conce ns and p omo e he
de elopmen o e ec i e solu ions, se e al measu es mus be implemen ed, including educa ional ini ia i es o aise
indi iduals' awa eness o mic oplas ics and media sou ces like ele ision shows, jou nals, and social media pla o ms
[1-30–65]. Va ious human biological specimens, such as aeces, spu um, sali a, blood, b onchoal eola la age uid,
placen a, and o he o gans, ha e been ound o con ain mic oplas ics, sugges ing ha hese pa icles may induce
de imen al e ec s on human heal h [1-30–65]. These e ec s can include po en ial heal h isks such as cance ,
immuno oxici y, in es inal diseases, pulmona y diseases, ca dio ascula disease, in lamma o y diseases, and ad e se
e ec s on p egnancy and ma e nal exposu e o p ogeny [1-30–65]. Fu he esea ch is also needed o unde s and acu e
and ch onic mic oplas ic oxic e ec s on humans and animals and o de elop sui able al e na i es o single-use ace
masks and medical indus y plas ic was e[1-30–65].
4. Conclusion
On he basis o li e a u e su ey i is ound ha mic oplas ics a e ou inely inges ed and inhaled by humans and o he
o ganisms. O pa icula conce n a e plas ic addi i es, chemical compounds ha a e in en ionally o unin en ionally
added o plas ics o imp o e unc ionali y o as esidual componen s o plas ic p oduc ion. Addi i es a e o en loosely
bound o he plas ic polyme and may be eleased du ing plas ic exposu es. Plas ics, o e he las hal -cen u y, ha e
es ablished a wo ldwide p esence in nea ly all socie ies and a e widely de ec able as pollu an s in he en i onmen .
Humans egula ly in e ac wi h plas ics h ough ood packaging, clo hing, oile ies, household i ems, u ni u e,
au omo i e pa s, medical equipmen , elec onics, oys, 3D p in ing, and o ice supplies. All plas ics expe ience
wea he ing, leading o he elease o mic oplas ics (1 μm o 5 mm) and nanoplas ics (<1 μm). Fo ins ance, humans a e
ou inely exposed o plas ic pa icles h ough espi a o y, o al, and de mal ou es. As a esul , plas ic has been de ec ed
in human issue and sec e ions, such as he lungs, colon, b eas milk, and placen a. Common addi i es used o
pe o mance enhancemen include plas icize s, lame e a dan s, hea and ligh s abilize s, an ioxidan s, lub ican s,
pigmen s, an is a ic agen s, slip agen s, biocides, and he mal s abilize s. Mic oplas ics ha e been associa ed wi h
endoc ine- ela ed cance s, bilia y ac cance , hepa ocellula ca cinoma, and panc ea ic cance .
Compliance wi h e hical s anda ds
Disclosu e o con lic o in e es
No con lic o in e es o be disclosed.
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 26(01), 4067-4074
4072
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