Micro(nano)plastics in the environment: a description of potential effects on human health
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36790/epistemus.v18i35.311Keywords:
Microplastics, Nanoplastics, Human health, Environmental pollutionAbstract
Plastics are materials of enormous importance in today's society with applications in various aspects of daily life, including medicine, technology, transportation, and construction. They are used to manufacture a wide variety of products (toys, household appliances, textiles, packaging, etc.), many of which are discarded by consumers after a single use. This has led to a large accumulation of plastic waste in the environment. One of the main concerns is their degradation and fragmentation to form microplastics (1 μm - 5 mm) and nanoplastics (< 1 μm). According to findings from in vivo and in vitro studies, micro(nano)plastics can accumulate in the human body generating some negative responses. In this paper, we explore the existing evidence on the routes of human exposure to micro(nano)plastics and the possible effects on human health.
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