what do microplastics do to humans

Microplastics are small plastic particles that can be found in the environment, including in the air, water, and soil. Humans can be exposed to microplastics through direct ingestion, direct contact, and inhalation. The impact of microplastics on human health is not yet fully understood, and more research is needed to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of microplastic toxicity and related pathologies. However, studies have shown that microplastics can affect various systems in the human body, including the digestive, respiratory, endocrine, reproductive, and immune systems. In vitro experiments with human cells and in vivo data generated with mice showed that microplastics elicit adverse health effects mainly by causing inflammation, oxidative stress, lipid metabolism disturbances, gut microbiota dysbiosis, and neurotoxicity. Microplastics can absorb undesirable chemicals, including heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and pesticides from the environment, and human consumption of microplastics can result in increased exposure to these chemicals and might lead to poisonous effects. Although there is limited evidence to suggest that microplastics are causing significant adverse health impacts, there are major knowledge gaps in scientific understanding of the impact of microplastics, and further research is needed to obtain a more accurate assessment of exposure to microplastics and their potential impacts on human health.