Investigating impact of physicochemical properties of microplastics on human health: A short bibliometric analysis and review

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 289; p. 133146
• Main Authors: Ebrahimi, Pooria, Abbasi, Sajjad, Pashaei, Reza, Bogusz, Aleksandra, Oleszczuk, Patryk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2022
• Subjects: Bibliometrics; Emerging pollutants; Environmental Monitoring; Exposure; Food chain; Human health; Humans; Microplastic; Microplastics; Plastics; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Human health; Exposure; Microplastic; Emerging pollutants; Food chain
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133146

Microplastics (MPs) are contaminants of emerging concern that attracted the attention of researchers over the last decade. They can occur in saliva and stool, and on scalp hair together with skin. Further, MPs can end up in the human diet through seafood, honey, salt, and mineral water. They can be taken up into the plants' roots and lead to the occurrence of MPs in fruits and vegetables. Concentration of the airborne MPs was also reported in the environment. These pieces of evidence clarify that introduction of MPs to the human body through ingestion and inhalation routes should not be overlooked. Following oral exposure to MPs, hazardous chemicals can be released in the gastrointestinal tract leading to toxicity. Inhalation route deserves more attention due to the oxidative potential of the inhaled plastic particles. Although the major characteristics of MPs are being investigated, there are currently few regulations to control concentration of MPs in the environment and their human health impacts remained unclear indicating the need for further investigation. For instance, it is not clear if the present air quality limits for PM2.5 and PM10 can be used for the areas with high suspended plastic particles. Without comprehensive knowledge about the retention and egestion rates of field populations, it is difficult to deduce the ecological and human health consequences. In general, more information about MP contamination in various species and the consequences of MP uptake and retention is required to gain a better idea of MPs in the food web and their environmental fate. The finer details on the MP translocation between tissues and the fate of the small plastic particles might be obtained when considering the existing information about the application of MPs in the pharmaceutical industry. In this review article, we presented a short bibliometric analysis and investigated the link between physicochemical properties of MPs and human health. [Display omitted] •Microfibers (also smaller in size) are the most dangerous microplastic (MP) types.•MPs affect digestive functions and their fate may be different in each biota.•Chemistry and size of MPs likely play a key role in human health risks.•Release of MPs from different sources should be monitored.•Necessity of upgrading the existing quality standards needs to be clarified.