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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Chu, Melinda
Format: Recurso digital
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Published: Zenodo 2026
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19663994
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Table of Contents:
  • <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Microplastics (1–5,000 µm) and nanoplastics (<1 µm) have been detected in multiple human tissues and organs, indicating systemic exposure through inhalation, ingestion, and other routes. Emerging evidence suggests nanoplastics may pose <strong>greater hazards</strong> than microplastics due to dramatically higher accessible surface area, which enhances cellular uptake, oxidative stress, inflammation, barrier penetration, and tissue reactivity.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span>Key findings include: </span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>• <strong>Brain</strong>: detected in olfactory bulb and brain tissue; potential links to neurodegenerative pathways. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>• <strong>Heart & vasculature</strong>: present in plaques and thrombi; associated with increased cardiovascular events. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>• <strong>Lungs</strong>: deposited via inhalation; linked to local inflammation. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>• <strong>Liver, kidneys, GI tract</strong>: high accumulation sites; possible roles in organ dysfunction and colorectal cancer. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>• <strong>Reproductive tissues</strong>: detected in testes, ovaries, and semen; fertility concerns noted. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>• <strong>Blood</strong>: quantifiable systemic circulation; serves as a clinically relevant matrix for exposure assessment.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>While causation has not been established, these associations highlight the need for scalable, routine monitoring of micro- and nanoplastics in human matrices. Policy and public-health strategies should prioritize surface-area-aware risk assessment, capture-and-removal approaches, and non-invasive exposure tracking to better protect population health.</span></p>