Occurrence, sources, human health impacts and mitigation of microplastic pollution
Open accessAbstract
The presence and accumulation of plastic and microplastic (MP) debris in the natural environment is of increasing concern and has become the focus of attention for many researchers. Plastic debris is a prolific, long-lived pollutant that is highly resistant to environmental degradation, readily adheres hydrophobic persistent organic pollutants and is linked to morbidity and mortality in numerous aquatic organisms. The prevalence of MPs within the natural environment is a symptom of continuous and rapid growth in synthetic plastic production and mismanagement of plastic waste. Many terrestrial and marine-based processes, including domestic and industrial drainage, maritime activities agricultural runoff and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) effluent, contribute to MP pollution in aquatic environments. MPs have been identified in food consumed by human and in air samples, and exposure to MPs via ingestion or inhalation could lead to adverse human health effects. Regulations in many countries have already been established or will soon be implemented to reduce MPs in aquatic environments. This review focuses on the occurrence, sources, and transport of MPs in terrestrial and aquatic environments to highlight potential human health effects, and applicable regulations to mitigate impacts of MPs. This study also highlights the importance of personality traits and cognitive ability in reducing the entry of MPs into the environment.
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Microplastics can accumulate in the kidneys, leading to cellular damage and inflammation.
“Studies have demonstrated that microplastics can accumulate in the kidneys, leading to cellular damage and inflammation.”
From Consumption of Bottled Water and Chronic Diseases: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study (2024) · cites this paper as [17]
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- Authors
- Karbalaei, S., Hanachi, P., Walker, T. R., & Cole, M.
- Affiliations
- Alzahra University (IR)
- Dalhousie University (CA)
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Karbalaei, Samaneh
- Venue
- Environmental Science and Pollution Research
- Published
- 2018-10-31
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 36
- Pages
- 36046-36063
- ISSN
- 0944-1344 (ISSN-L)
- 1614-7499
- OpenAlex
- W2899465999
- Cited by
- 700
- References
- 21
- Citations by year
- 2026: 65 · 2025: 109 · 2024: 122 · 2023: 124 · 2022: 102 · 2021: 98 · 2020: 56 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 5
- FWCI
- 2.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- figshare.com
- Licence
- Locations
- Environmental Science and Pollution Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Marine Biological Association (acceptedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Figshare (cc-by)
- Funders
- Iran National Science Foundation (97001707)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Keywords
- microplastics, plastic pollution, microplastic sources, microplastic transport, human health effects, ingestion, inhalation exposure, food contamination, wastewater treatment plant effluent, agricultural runoff, marine pollution, terrestrial pollution, plastic waste management, microplastic regulation, personality traits, cognitive ability
- MeSH terms
- Dietary Exposure, Air Pollutants, Animals, Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Pollutants, Food Contamination, Humans, Plastics, Public Health, Waste Disposal, Fluid, Waste Products, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Risk Assessment, Aquatic Organisms
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