Research progress on the exposure pathway and toxic effect of microplastics / 中国职业医学

ABSTRACT

Global plastics production has been increasing year by year. Due to the large quantity of plastics and the difficulty of their degradation, plastics are continuously accumulated in the environment. Therefore, plastic waste has become one of the most serious threats to the global environment. Microplastics can be absorbed into organisms through the mouth, respiratory tract and skin, causing organ(intestine, liver) toxicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, and neurotoxicity. Moreover, microplastics can also take up other pollutants distributed in the surrounding environment, such as heavy metals and organic pollutants, jointly exerting combined toxic effects. The extracts of microplastics, including microplastics unstable polymers and additives, also have toxic effects. The molecular mechanisms involved in the toxic effects induced by microplastics include oxidative stress, inflammation, disturbance of intestinal flora, disturbance of gene expression, and others.