TY - JOUR

T1 - To Waste or Not to Waste Questioning Potential Health Risks of Micro- and Nanoplastics with a Focus on Their Ingestion and Potential Carcinogenicity

AU - Gruber, Elisabeth S.

AU - Stadlbauer, Vanessa

AU - Pichler, Verena

AU - Resch-Fauster, Katharina

AU - Todorovic, Andrea

AU - Meisel, Thomas

AU - Trawoeger, Sibylle

AU - Hollóczki, Oldamur

AU - Turner, Suzanne D.

AU - Wadsak, Wolfgang

AU - Vethaak, A. Dick

AU - Kenner, Lukas

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s).

PY - 2022/3/22

Y1 - 2022/3/22

N2 - Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are recognized as emerging contaminants, especially in food, with unknown health significance. MNPs passing through the gastrointestinal tract have been brought in context with disruption of the gut microbiome. Several molecular mechanisms have been described to facilitate tissue uptake of MNPs, which then are involved in local inflammatory and immune responses. Furthermore, MNPs can act as potential transporters (“vectors”) of contaminants and as chemosensitizers for toxic substances (“Trojan Horse effect”). In this review, we summarize current multidisciplinary knowledge of ingested MNPs and their potential adverse health effects. We discuss new insights into analytical and molecular modeling tools to help us better understand the local deposition and uptake of MNPs that might drive carcinogenic signaling. We present bioethical insights to basically re-consider the “culture of consumerism.” Finally, we map out prominent research questions in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

AB - Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are recognized as emerging contaminants, especially in food, with unknown health significance. MNPs passing through the gastrointestinal tract have been brought in context with disruption of the gut microbiome. Several molecular mechanisms have been described to facilitate tissue uptake of MNPs, which then are involved in local inflammatory and immune responses. Furthermore, MNPs can act as potential transporters (“vectors”) of contaminants and as chemosensitizers for toxic substances (“Trojan Horse effect”). In this review, we summarize current multidisciplinary knowledge of ingested MNPs and their potential adverse health effects. We discuss new insights into analytical and molecular modeling tools to help us better understand the local deposition and uptake of MNPs that might drive carcinogenic signaling. We present bioethical insights to basically re-consider the “culture of consumerism.” Finally, we map out prominent research questions in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

KW - Bioethics issue

KW - Carcinogenesis

KW - Human health

KW - Microplastic

KW - Nanoplastic

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85126858572&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s12403-022-00470-8

DO - 10.1007/s12403-022-00470-8

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:85126858572

VL - 14.2022

JO - Exposure and health

JF - Exposure and health

SN - 2451-9766

IS - March

ER -