Mapping Microplastics in Humans: Analysis of Polymer Types, and Shapes in Food and Drinking Water—A Systematic Review
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Methods
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Critical Analysis of Human Exposure to MPs through Food and Drinking Water
3.1.1. Description of Data Sources
3.1.2. Human Exposure to MPs: Evaluation of Polymer Chemistry
3.1.3. Human Exposure to MPs: Particle Shape
3.2. Outlook on the Impact of MPs’ Physico-Chemical Properties on Toxicology
3.2.1. Toxicology of MPs: Effect of Polymer Chemistry
3.2.2. Toxicology of MPs: Effect of MP Shape
3.2.3. Toxicology of MPs: Effect of MPs’ Size
4. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Group | Abbreviation | Search Term 1 | Search Terms 2–3 |
---|---|---|---|
Seafood: invertebrates | I | microplastic * | 2) digestive OR gut OR ingestion OR uptake 3) Mussel OR oyster OR clam OR lobster OR shrimp OR sea urchin OR snail OR sea cucumbers OR crab |
Fish | F | 2) digestive OR gut OR ingestion OR uptake 3) fish | |
Drinking Water | DW | 2) drinking water | |
Meat | M | 2) meat OR pork OR beef OR chicken OR goat OR turkey OR duck OR lamb OR buffalo | |
Plant-Based food | P | 2) edible plant OR vegetable OR fruit OR herb OR plant based | |
Humans | H | 2) digestive OR gut OR ingestion OR uptake OR internalization OR tissue OR organ OR bioaccumulation 3) human * |
Shape Group | Terms Included |
---|---|
Fibres | Fibre, filament, thread, line, fibrous MP |
Fragments | Fragment, angular, irregularly shaped |
Films | Film, sheet, flat MP |
Foams | Foam, sponge-like |
Pellets | Pellet, bead, sphere |
Food Group | Food Sources Included in the Database | N Studies |
---|---|---|
Seafood Invertebrates | Mussels, oysters, clams, lobsters, shrimps, sea urchins, snails, sea cucumbers, crabs | 139 |
Fish | Freshwater and seawater fish, wild (only edible species) or farmed, canned fish, fishmeal | 135 |
Drinking Water | Tap water, bottled water, borehole drinking water, water after purification in drinking water treatment plants | 83 |
Meat | chicken, beef, pork, chicken eggs, duck (edible species) | 8 |
Plant-Based food | Edible fruits and vegetables, lettuce, vegetable oil, processed plant-based food | 5 |
Health Status | Sample Analysed | N Patients | n MPs | Sizemin | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gastrointestinal Tract | |||||
healthy | stool | 8 | 727 | 50 μm | [39] |
healthy and inflammatory bowel disease | stool | 102 | 8529 | 5 μm | [40] |
healthy and liver cirrhosis | liver tissue | 6 | 102 | 4 μm | [41] |
colorectal cancer and normal colon | colon tissue | 11 | 3638 | NM | [42] |
healthy | stool | 8 | 129 | 30 μm | [43] |
healthy | urine and kidney tissue | 10 | 26 | 1 μm | [44] |
healthy | stool | 26 | 213 | 20 μm | [45] |
healthy, colorectal adenocarcinoma | colon tissues | 32 | 3 | 1 μm | [46] |
various conditions | lung, intestine, tonsil tissues | 41 | 37 | 20 μm | [47] |
Vascular system/body fluids | |||||
thrombosis | thrombi | 26 | 1 | 2.1 μm | [48] |
patients undergoing surgery | saphenous vein tissue | 5 | 102 | 5 μm | [49] |
NM | blood, cerebrospinal fluid, effusions and cyst fluids | 104 | 17 | 2 μm | [50] |
patients undergoing cardiac surgery | blood, vascular tissues | 15 | 17,961 | 20 μm | [51] |
healthy | blood | 22 | 27 | 0.7 μm | [52] |
atherosclerosis | coronary artery, carotid artery, carotid aortic samples | 17 | 628 | NM | [53] |
Reproductive system and new-borns health | |||||
healthy | breastmilk | 34 | 41 | 2 μm | [54] |
healthy infants | meconium | 37 | 0 | 10 μm | [55] |
preterm birth | amniotic fluid and placenta | 20 | 21 | 10 μm | [56] |
healthy | semen | 10 | 16 | 2 μm | [57] |
healthy | placentas and meconium | 36 | 941 | 20 μm | [58] |
healthy | placentas | 30 | 142 | 1 μm | [59] |
healthy, endometriosis | urine | 38 | 355 | 5 μm | [21] |
acute caesarean sections | maternal amniotic fluid | 40 | 776 | 20 μm | [60] |
healthy | testis, semen | 30 | 56 | 20 μm | [61] |
Other systems | |||||
hip or knee arthroplasty | lower limb joints | 45 | 343 | 11 μm | [62] |
ocular diseases | vitreous samples | 49 | 1745 | 20 μm | [63] |
Polymer | Global Production, Mt [66,67] | Chemical Structure | Examples of Uses [67] |
---|---|---|---|
PES (textiles) | 63.3 | Apparel, home textiles, water filtration systems, conveyor belts, safety belts, geotextiles, non-woven fabrics, medical masks, etc. | |
PES (PET) | 27.6 | Bottles for water, soft drinks, juices, cleaners, etc., food jars/pots, clothes, plastic films, microwavable packaging, etc. | |
PA | 6.1 | Fibres, bristles for toothbrushes, tubing, clothing, fishing lines and nets, conveyor belts, food packaging, medical devices, etc. | |
PU | 28.4 | Building insulation, pillows and mattresses, insulating foams, surface coatings, rollers for printing used in cars, carpet, flexible foam in furniture, elastic fibre, etc. | |
PP | 69.3 | Food packaging, sweets and snacks, wrappers, hinged caps, microwave containers, pipes, automotive parts, bank notes, etc. | |
PAC | - | diapers, sanitary napkins, textile finishing, nail polishes, and skincare products, contact lenses, touch screens, paper coatings, etc. | |
PE | 106.6 | Reusable bags, trays and containers, agricultural film, food packaging film, toys, milk bottles, shampoo bottles, pipes, houseware, etc. | |
PVC | 35.9 | Window frames, pipes, plumbing and guttering, shower curtains, synthetic leather, cosmetic containers, commercial cling wrap, etc. | |
PS | 23.0 | Food packaging (dairy, fishery), electrical and electronic equipment, inner liner for fridges, eyeglasses frames, food containers, disposable cups, plates and cutlery, boxes for compact discs and cassettes, etc. |
Size Group | N Studies | n MPs | MPs/Study |
---|---|---|---|
≤1 μm | 38 | 115,183 | 3031 |
1–10 μm | 63 | 59,038 | 937 |
10–100 μm | 147 | 106,660 | 726 |
>100 μm | 84 | 17,696 | 211 |
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© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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Vdovchenko, A.; Resmini, M. Mapping Microplastics in Humans: Analysis of Polymer Types, and Shapes in Food and Drinking Water—A Systematic Review. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25, 7074. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25137074
Vdovchenko A, Resmini M. Mapping Microplastics in Humans: Analysis of Polymer Types, and Shapes in Food and Drinking Water—A Systematic Review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2024; 25(13):7074. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25137074
Chicago/Turabian StyleVdovchenko, Alena, and Marina Resmini. 2024. "Mapping Microplastics in Humans: Analysis of Polymer Types, and Shapes in Food and Drinking Water—A Systematic Review" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 25, no. 13: 7074. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25137074
APA StyleVdovchenko, A., & Resmini, M. (2024). Mapping Microplastics in Humans: Analysis of Polymer Types, and Shapes in Food and Drinking Water—A Systematic Review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(13), 7074. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25137074