REVIEW PAPER
A Comprehensive Review of the Impact of Microplastics on the Respiratory, Digestive and Renal Systems – Mechanisms of Toxicity and Health Implications
1
Clinic of Cardiology and Internal Medicine, 5th Military Hospital with Polyclinic in Kraków
2
Department of Internal Medicine and Diabetology, Voivodeship Hospital in Bielsko-Biała
3
Department of Internal Medicine, Ludwik Rydygier Specialist Hospital in Kraków
4
First Internal Ward, Voivodeship Combined Hospital in Kielce
5
Department of Internal Medicine, Specialist Hospital in Radom
These authors had equal contribution to this work
Corresponding author
Monika Domagała
Clinic of Cardiology and Internal Diseases, 5th Military Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic SPZOZ, Kraków, Polska
Clinic of Cardiology and Internal Diseases, 5th Military Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic SPZOZ, Kraków, Polska
KEYWORDS
microplasticnanoplasticenvironmental pollutionmicroplastic toxicityrespiratory diseasesrenal diseases
TOPICS
Biomedyczne aspekty zdrowia i chorobyZdrowie środowiskoweProfilaktyka chorób cywilizacyjnychPromocja zdrowia i edukacja zdrowotna
ABSTRACT
Introduction and objective:
In 2021, global plastic production reached 390.7 million tons and continues to increase annually. The accumulation of microplastic (MP) particles has been observed in all tissues and body fluids, with the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and urinary system being particularly vulnerable to its toxic effects through direct. contact.
Review methods:
The PubMed database was searched using various combinations of specific key words: ‘microplastics’, ‘nanoplastics’, ‘lung diseases’, ‘intestinal diseases’, ‘renal diseases’, and ‘hepatic diseases’.
Brief description of the state of knowledge:
In response to microplastic stimulation, disturbances in oxidative stress balance and increased free radical formation have been observed in lung parenchyma, along with inflammation development via activation of the NF-κB pathway dependent on p38 phosphorylation and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Similar changes were observed in the gastrointestinal tract where microplastic-induced activation of the ROS–NF-κB/NLRP3/IL-1β/MLCK stress pathway led to damage to the intestinal barrier, alterations in gut microbiota composition, and disruptions in microbial metabolism. In the kidney parenchyma, in addition to the activation of the prior-mentioned inflammatory mechanisms, microplastic exposure resulted in inhibited cell proliferation, intracellular accumulation of microplastics, and a decrease in the expression of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes. This reduced the cells ability to neutralize free radicals and intensified cytotoxic effects.
Summary:
Understanding the health risks of daily microplastic exposure requires interdisciplinary studies that reflect realworld concentrations, emphasizing chronic effects, particle characteristics and their interactions with associated compounds.
In 2021, global plastic production reached 390.7 million tons and continues to increase annually. The accumulation of microplastic (MP) particles has been observed in all tissues and body fluids, with the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and urinary system being particularly vulnerable to its toxic effects through direct. contact.
Review methods:
The PubMed database was searched using various combinations of specific key words: ‘microplastics’, ‘nanoplastics’, ‘lung diseases’, ‘intestinal diseases’, ‘renal diseases’, and ‘hepatic diseases’.
Brief description of the state of knowledge:
In response to microplastic stimulation, disturbances in oxidative stress balance and increased free radical formation have been observed in lung parenchyma, along with inflammation development via activation of the NF-κB pathway dependent on p38 phosphorylation and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Similar changes were observed in the gastrointestinal tract where microplastic-induced activation of the ROS–NF-κB/NLRP3/IL-1β/MLCK stress pathway led to damage to the intestinal barrier, alterations in gut microbiota composition, and disruptions in microbial metabolism. In the kidney parenchyma, in addition to the activation of the prior-mentioned inflammatory mechanisms, microplastic exposure resulted in inhibited cell proliferation, intracellular accumulation of microplastics, and a decrease in the expression of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes. This reduced the cells ability to neutralize free radicals and intensified cytotoxic effects.
Summary:
Understanding the health risks of daily microplastic exposure requires interdisciplinary studies that reflect realworld concentrations, emphasizing chronic effects, particle characteristics and their interactions with associated compounds.
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| eISSN: | 2084-4905 |
| ISSN: | 2083-4543 |
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