Microplastics, a Global Issue: Human Exposure through Environmental and Dietary Sources
Plastic production has grown dramatically over the years. Microplastics (MPs) are formed from the fragmentation of larger plastic debris by combining chemical, physical, and biological processes and can degrade further to form nanoplastics (NPs). Because of their size, MPs and NPs are bioavailable t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Foods |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/18/3396 |
| _version_ | 1827726090638983168 |
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| author | Lucrezia Borriello Marcello Scivicco Nunzio Antonio Cacciola Francesco Esposito Lorella Severino Teresa Cirillo |
| author_facet | Lucrezia Borriello Marcello Scivicco Nunzio Antonio Cacciola Francesco Esposito Lorella Severino Teresa Cirillo |
| author_sort | Lucrezia Borriello |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Plastic production has grown dramatically over the years. Microplastics (MPs) are formed from the fragmentation of larger plastic debris by combining chemical, physical, and biological processes and can degrade further to form nanoplastics (NPs). Because of their size, MPs and NPs are bioavailable to many organisms and can reach humans through transport along the food chain. In addition to the risk from ingesting MPs themselves, there are risks associated with the substances they carry, such as pesticides, pathogenic microorganisms, and heavy metals, and with the additives added to plastics to improve their characteristics. In addition, bioaccumulation and biomagnification can cause a cumulative exposure effect for organisms at the top of the food chain and humans. Despite the growing scientific interest in this emerging contaminant, the potential adverse effects remain unclear. The aim of this review is to summarize the characteristics (size, shape, color, and properties) of MPs in the environment, the primary sources, and the transport pathways in various environmental compartments, and to shed more light on the ecological impact of MPs and the potential health effects on organisms and humans by identifying human exposure pathways. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:45:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6d4b4a84baee4c40b9ec716c5151f6d9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:45:21Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj.art-6d4b4a84baee4c40b9ec716c5151f6d92023-11-19T10:42:31ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582023-09-011218339610.3390/foods12183396Microplastics, a Global Issue: Human Exposure through Environmental and Dietary SourcesLucrezia Borriello0Marcello Scivicco1Nunzio Antonio Cacciola2Francesco Esposito3Lorella Severino4Teresa Cirillo5Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Division of Toxicology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Division of Toxicology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Division of Toxicology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Via Sergio Pansini, 5, 80131 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Division of Toxicology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università, 100, 80055 Portici, ItalyPlastic production has grown dramatically over the years. Microplastics (MPs) are formed from the fragmentation of larger plastic debris by combining chemical, physical, and biological processes and can degrade further to form nanoplastics (NPs). Because of their size, MPs and NPs are bioavailable to many organisms and can reach humans through transport along the food chain. In addition to the risk from ingesting MPs themselves, there are risks associated with the substances they carry, such as pesticides, pathogenic microorganisms, and heavy metals, and with the additives added to plastics to improve their characteristics. In addition, bioaccumulation and biomagnification can cause a cumulative exposure effect for organisms at the top of the food chain and humans. Despite the growing scientific interest in this emerging contaminant, the potential adverse effects remain unclear. The aim of this review is to summarize the characteristics (size, shape, color, and properties) of MPs in the environment, the primary sources, and the transport pathways in various environmental compartments, and to shed more light on the ecological impact of MPs and the potential health effects on organisms and humans by identifying human exposure pathways.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/18/3396microplasticshuman healthsourcefoodsfood chaintrophic transfer |
| spellingShingle | Lucrezia Borriello Marcello Scivicco Nunzio Antonio Cacciola Francesco Esposito Lorella Severino Teresa Cirillo Microplastics, a Global Issue: Human Exposure through Environmental and Dietary Sources Foods microplastics human health source foods food chain trophic transfer |
| title | Microplastics, a Global Issue: Human Exposure through Environmental and Dietary Sources |
| title_full | Microplastics, a Global Issue: Human Exposure through Environmental and Dietary Sources |
| title_fullStr | Microplastics, a Global Issue: Human Exposure through Environmental and Dietary Sources |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microplastics, a Global Issue: Human Exposure through Environmental and Dietary Sources |
| title_short | Microplastics, a Global Issue: Human Exposure through Environmental and Dietary Sources |
| title_sort | microplastics a global issue human exposure through environmental and dietary sources |
| topic | microplastics human health source foods food chain trophic transfer |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/18/3396 |
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