Health impacts of environmental contamination of micro- and nanoplastics: a review
Abstract Plastics are extensively used in our daily life. However, a significant amount of plastic waste is discharged to the environment directly or via improper reuse or recycling. Degradation of plastic waste generates micro- or nano-sized plastic particles that are defined as micro- or nanoplast...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Komiyama Printing Co. Ltd
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12199-020-00870-9 |
| _version_ | 1828521887523667968 |
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| author | Baorong Jiang Alexandra E Kauffman Lei Li Wayne McFee Bo Cai John Weinstein Jamie R Lead Saurabh Chatterjee Geoffrey I Scott Shuo Xiao |
| author_facet | Baorong Jiang Alexandra E Kauffman Lei Li Wayne McFee Bo Cai John Weinstein Jamie R Lead Saurabh Chatterjee Geoffrey I Scott Shuo Xiao |
| author_sort | Baorong Jiang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Plastics are extensively used in our daily life. However, a significant amount of plastic waste is discharged to the environment directly or via improper reuse or recycling. Degradation of plastic waste generates micro- or nano-sized plastic particles that are defined as micro- or nanoplastics (MNPs). Microplastics (MPs) are plastic particles with a diameter less than 5 mm, while nanoplastics (NPs) range in diameter from 1 to 100 or 1000 nm. In the current review, we first briefly summarized the environmental contamination of MNPs and then discussed their health impacts based on existing MNP research. Our review indicates that MNPs can be detected in both marine and terrestrial ecosystems worldwide and be ingested and accumulated by animals along the food chain. Evidence has suggested the harmful health impacts of MNPs on marine and freshwater animals. Recent studies found MPs in human stool samples, suggesting that humans are exposed to MPs through food and/or drinking water. However, the effect of MNPs on human health is scarcely researched. In addition to the MNPs themselves, these tiny plastic particles can release plastic additives and/or adsorb other environmental chemicals, many of which have been shown to exhibit endocrine disrupting and other toxic effects. In summary, we conclude that more studies are necessary to provide a comprehensive understanding of MNP pollution hazards and also provide a basis for the subsequent pollution management and control. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T19:57:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-51451596782848a394de2bf55c35918f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1342-078X 1347-4715 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T19:57:52Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | Komiyama Printing Co. Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-51451596782848a394de2bf55c35918f2022-12-22T00:52:36ZengKomiyama Printing Co. LtdEnvironmental Health and Preventive Medicine1342-078X1347-47152020-07-0125111510.1186/s12199-020-00870-9Health impacts of environmental contamination of micro- and nanoplastics: a reviewBaorong Jiang0Alexandra E Kauffman1Lei Li2Wayne McFee3Bo Cai4John Weinstein5Jamie R Lead6Saurabh Chatterjee7Geoffrey I Scott8Shuo Xiao9Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South CarolinaDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South CarolinaCenter for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical UniversityNational Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)NIEHS Center for Oceans and Human Health and Climate Change Interactions (OHHC2I), University of South CarolinaDepartment of Biology, The Citadel, Military College of South CarolinaDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South CarolinaDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South CarolinaDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South CarolinaDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South CarolinaAbstract Plastics are extensively used in our daily life. However, a significant amount of plastic waste is discharged to the environment directly or via improper reuse or recycling. Degradation of plastic waste generates micro- or nano-sized plastic particles that are defined as micro- or nanoplastics (MNPs). Microplastics (MPs) are plastic particles with a diameter less than 5 mm, while nanoplastics (NPs) range in diameter from 1 to 100 or 1000 nm. In the current review, we first briefly summarized the environmental contamination of MNPs and then discussed their health impacts based on existing MNP research. Our review indicates that MNPs can be detected in both marine and terrestrial ecosystems worldwide and be ingested and accumulated by animals along the food chain. Evidence has suggested the harmful health impacts of MNPs on marine and freshwater animals. Recent studies found MPs in human stool samples, suggesting that humans are exposed to MPs through food and/or drinking water. However, the effect of MNPs on human health is scarcely researched. In addition to the MNPs themselves, these tiny plastic particles can release plastic additives and/or adsorb other environmental chemicals, many of which have been shown to exhibit endocrine disrupting and other toxic effects. In summary, we conclude that more studies are necessary to provide a comprehensive understanding of MNP pollution hazards and also provide a basis for the subsequent pollution management and control.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12199-020-00870-9MicroplasticsNanoplasticsHealth impactsAdditivesAdsorbents |
| spellingShingle | Baorong Jiang Alexandra E Kauffman Lei Li Wayne McFee Bo Cai John Weinstein Jamie R Lead Saurabh Chatterjee Geoffrey I Scott Shuo Xiao Health impacts of environmental contamination of micro- and nanoplastics: a review Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine Microplastics Nanoplastics Health impacts Additives Adsorbents |
| title | Health impacts of environmental contamination of micro- and nanoplastics: a review |
| title_full | Health impacts of environmental contamination of micro- and nanoplastics: a review |
| title_fullStr | Health impacts of environmental contamination of micro- and nanoplastics: a review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health impacts of environmental contamination of micro- and nanoplastics: a review |
| title_short | Health impacts of environmental contamination of micro- and nanoplastics: a review |
| title_sort | health impacts of environmental contamination of micro and nanoplastics a review |
| topic | Microplastics Nanoplastics Health impacts Additives Adsorbents |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12199-020-00870-9 |
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