A Hidden Pathway for Human Exposure to Micro- and Nanoplastics—The Mechanical Fragmentation of Plastic Products during Daily Use
In numerous environmental compartments around the world, the existence of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in the environment has been verified. A growing number of studies have looked at the interaction between MNPs and human activities due to the risks they may pose to humans. Exposure pathways are...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Toxics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/11/9/774 |
| _version_ | 1797576559323774976 |
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| author | Yang Yu Nicholas Craig Lei Su |
| author_facet | Yang Yu Nicholas Craig Lei Su |
| author_sort | Yang Yu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In numerous environmental compartments around the world, the existence of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in the environment has been verified. A growing number of studies have looked at the interaction between MNPs and human activities due to the risks they may pose to humans. Exposure pathways are key factors in measuring MNPs risks. However, current research largely ignores the contribution of mechanical fragmentation pathways to MNPs exposure during the daily use of plastic products. Our critical review demonstrated the research gap between MNP fragmentation and risk assessments via a network analysis. The release of fragmented MNPs and their properties were also described at various scales, with emphasis on environmental stressors and mechanical fragmentation. In the scenarios of daily use, plastic products such as food packaging and clothing provide acute pathways of MNPs exposure. The release tendency of those products (up to 10<sup>2</sup> mg MNPs) are several orders of magnitude higher than MNPs abundances in natural compartments. Despite the limited evidence available, waste recycling, landfill and municipal activities represented long-term pathways for MNPs fragmentation and point sources of MNPs pollution in environmental media. Assessing the health effects of the fragmentation process, unfortunately, is further hampered by the current absence of human exposure impact assessments for secondary MNPs. We proposed that future studies should integrate aging evaluation into risk assessment frameworks and establish early warning signs of MNPs released from plastic products. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:53:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aa91195c94db471b9bc667e0f0553b8f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2305-6304 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:53:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxics |
| spelling | doaj.art-aa91195c94db471b9bc667e0f0553b8f2023-11-19T13:14:58ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042023-09-0111977410.3390/toxics11090774A Hidden Pathway for Human Exposure to Micro- and Nanoplastics—The Mechanical Fragmentation of Plastic Products during Daily UseYang Yu0Nicholas Craig1Lei Su2College of Marine Ecology and Environment, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, ChinaSchool of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, AustraliaCollege of Marine Ecology and Environment, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, ChinaIn numerous environmental compartments around the world, the existence of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in the environment has been verified. A growing number of studies have looked at the interaction between MNPs and human activities due to the risks they may pose to humans. Exposure pathways are key factors in measuring MNPs risks. However, current research largely ignores the contribution of mechanical fragmentation pathways to MNPs exposure during the daily use of plastic products. Our critical review demonstrated the research gap between MNP fragmentation and risk assessments via a network analysis. The release of fragmented MNPs and their properties were also described at various scales, with emphasis on environmental stressors and mechanical fragmentation. In the scenarios of daily use, plastic products such as food packaging and clothing provide acute pathways of MNPs exposure. The release tendency of those products (up to 10<sup>2</sup> mg MNPs) are several orders of magnitude higher than MNPs abundances in natural compartments. Despite the limited evidence available, waste recycling, landfill and municipal activities represented long-term pathways for MNPs fragmentation and point sources of MNPs pollution in environmental media. Assessing the health effects of the fragmentation process, unfortunately, is further hampered by the current absence of human exposure impact assessments for secondary MNPs. We proposed that future studies should integrate aging evaluation into risk assessment frameworks and establish early warning signs of MNPs released from plastic products.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/11/9/774microplasticpathwaysmechanical fragmentationexposure |
| spellingShingle | Yang Yu Nicholas Craig Lei Su A Hidden Pathway for Human Exposure to Micro- and Nanoplastics—The Mechanical Fragmentation of Plastic Products during Daily Use Toxics microplastic pathways mechanical fragmentation exposure |
| title | A Hidden Pathway for Human Exposure to Micro- and Nanoplastics—The Mechanical Fragmentation of Plastic Products during Daily Use |
| title_full | A Hidden Pathway for Human Exposure to Micro- and Nanoplastics—The Mechanical Fragmentation of Plastic Products during Daily Use |
| title_fullStr | A Hidden Pathway for Human Exposure to Micro- and Nanoplastics—The Mechanical Fragmentation of Plastic Products during Daily Use |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Hidden Pathway for Human Exposure to Micro- and Nanoplastics—The Mechanical Fragmentation of Plastic Products during Daily Use |
| title_short | A Hidden Pathway for Human Exposure to Micro- and Nanoplastics—The Mechanical Fragmentation of Plastic Products during Daily Use |
| title_sort | hidden pathway for human exposure to micro and nanoplastics the mechanical fragmentation of plastic products during daily use |
| topic | microplastic pathways mechanical fragmentation exposure |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/11/9/774 |
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