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Microplastics
Special Issues
Microplastics and Human Health: Impact, Challenges and Interaction Mechanisms
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Microplastics and Human Health: Impact, Challenges and Interaction Mechanisms

A special issue of Microplastics (ISSN 2673-8929).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2024 | Viewed by 16059

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Javier Bayo

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena (UPCT), Paseo Alfonso XIII, s/n, 30202 Cartagena, Murcia, Spain
Interests: microplastics in wastewater treatment plants; microplastics in human health; marine litter; biodegradation and weathering of microplastics; pollution monitoring

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to publish original and innovative papers, as well as reviews, meta-analyses, and opinion papers, focused on the following topics:

  • Current status and trends of microplastic pollution in the food chain;
  • Primary exposition to microplastics through the gastrointestinal tract;
  • Studying the impact of airborne microplastics on human health;
  • Interaction of microplastics with physiological, biochemical, and clinical parameters;
  • Association between microplastic levels and corresponding living habits;
  • Potential health risk of environmental-related microplastic exposure;
  • Behavior, toxicity, degradation, and transformation of microplastics in the human body;
  • Technological advancements in microplastic detection and monitoring of microplastic pollution in human fluids and tissues;
  • Microplastics obtained at coroner autopsies.

Dr. Javier Bayo
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microplastics is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • microplastic pollution
  • internal dose of exposure
  • ingestion
  • inhalation
  • quantitative assessment
  • environmental exposure
  • human health
  • airborne microplastics

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 2020 KiB  
Article
First Evidence of the Possible Influence of Avoiding Daily Liquid Intake from Plastic and Glass Beverage Bottles on Blood Pressure in Healthy Volunteers
by Liesa Geppner, Sophie Grammatidis, Harald Wilfing and Maja Henjakovic
Microplastics 2024, 3(3), 419-432; https://doi.org/10.3390/microplastics3030026 - 26 Jul 2024
Viewed by 12484
Abstract
The global microplastic pollution issue, as a result of the indispensable usage of microplastics in building materials, packaged food, medical products and consumer goods, poses significant health problems for the population. These small particles can penetrate intact cell barriers in the intestines and [...] Read more.
The global microplastic pollution issue, as a result of the indispensable usage of microplastics in building materials, packaged food, medical products and consumer goods, poses significant health problems for the population. These small particles can penetrate intact cell barriers in the intestines and alveoli, thereby entering the bloodstream. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of reduced plastic consumption on blood pressure. Eight adult and healthy participants abstained from consuming commercially produced bottled beverages and restricted their primary fluid intake to tap water. Blood pressure was measured on both sides before, after 14 days and after 28 to 30 days of this partial plastic diet. Women exhibit a significant change in systolic blood pressure on the right arm after 2 and 4 weeks, while the left arm demonstrates no significant changes in blood pressure. On the contrary, in men, systolic blood pressure values on both arms show no significant alterations, attributable to the high variability across the three participants. Moreover, no significant differences in systolic blood pressure were observed when analysing the entire cohort. Significant findings are evident only at the two-week mark for diastolic blood pressure for all participants in both arms. When considering diastolic blood pressure separately for women and men, men again show no significant changes in blood pressure on either arm. However, women exhibit a significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure on the left arm after 2 weeks and a statistically significant decline in diastolic blood pressure on the right arm after both 2 and 4 weeks. The results of the study suggest, for the first time, that a reduction in plastic use could potentially lower blood pressure, probably due to the reduced volume of plastic particles in the bloodstream. To confirm this hypothesis, a larger sample of male and female participants must be examined, ideally with the monitoring of plastic concentration in the blood. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics and Human Health: Impact, Challenges and Interaction Mechanisms)
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12 pages, 37783 KiB  
Article
Microscopic Image Dataset with Segmentation and Detection Labels for Microplastic Analysis in Sewage: Enhancing Research and Environmental Monitoring
by Gwanghee Lee, Jaeheon Jung, Sangjun Moon, Jihyun Jung and Kyoungson Jhang
Microplastics 2024, 3(2), 264-275; https://doi.org/10.3390/microplastics3020016 - 17 May 2024
Viewed by 1804
Abstract
We introduce a novel microscopic image dataset augmented with segmentation and detection labels specifically designed for microplastic analysis in sewage environments. Recognizing the increasing concern over microplastics—particles of synthetic polymers smaller than 5 mm—and their detrimental effects on marine ecosystems and human health, [...] Read more.
We introduce a novel microscopic image dataset augmented with segmentation and detection labels specifically designed for microplastic analysis in sewage environments. Recognizing the increasing concern over microplastics—particles of synthetic polymers smaller than 5 mm—and their detrimental effects on marine ecosystems and human health, our research focuses on enhancing detection and analytical methodologies through advanced computer vision and deep learning techniques. The dataset comprises high-resolution microscopic images of microplastics collected from sewage, meticulously labeled for both segmentation and detection tasks, aiming to facilitate accurate and efficient identification and quantification of microplastic pollution. In addition to dataset development, we present example deep learning models optimized for segmentation and detection of microplastics within complex sewage samples. The models demonstrate significant potential in automating the analysis of microplastic contamination, offering a scalable solution to environmental monitoring challenges. Furthermore, we ensure the accessibility and reproducibility 12 of our research by making the dataset and model codes publicly available, accompanied by detailed 13 documentation on GitHub and LabelBox. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics and Human Health: Impact, Challenges and Interaction Mechanisms)
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Review

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18 pages, 1019 KiB  
Review
Indoor Airborne Microplastics: Human Health Importance and Effects of Air Filtration and Turbulence
by Christine C. Gaylarde, José Antonio Baptista Neto and Estefan M. da Fonseca
Microplastics 2024, 3(4), 653-670; https://doi.org/10.3390/microplastics3040040 - 5 Nov 2024
Viewed by 891
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are omnipresent particles that receive special attention because of their persistent nature and their potential impact on human disease and on the environment. Most MPs are generated by the degradation of larger plastic items such as clothing, car tires, and discarded [...] Read more.
Microplastics (MPs) are omnipresent particles that receive special attention because of their persistent nature and their potential impact on human disease and on the environment. Most MPs are generated by the degradation of larger plastic items such as clothing, car tires, and discarded plastic materials. In indoor environments, where human beings spend most of their time, aerial MP levels are higher, and the majority are fibers produced from textiles. Airborne MPs indoors are a greater potential danger to humans than MPs ingested in food and drink. Fragments small enough to remain substantially suspended in the air column, the small airborne microparticles that are measured as PM10 and PM2.5, become available for assimilation by human beings through respiration, potentially producing various health problems. Larger MPs act by ingestion and skin contact. MPs can carry microorganisms and micropollutants adsorbed to their surfaces, facilitating their uptake and survival within the human body. Indoor airborne MPs thus represent emerging pollutants of fast-growing concern that are especially important as potential invaders of the human respiratory system, reaching the alveoli of the lungs and finally entering the circulatory system and other tissues. Since this direct human exposure to MP contamination via indoor air is so important, we discuss in this article the ways in which MP concentration and dispersal in indoor air can be affected by air turbulence that is induced by anthropogenic objects such as air conditioners, filters, and purifiers. Much evidence is equivocal and further research is necessary. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics and Human Health: Impact, Challenges and Interaction Mechanisms)
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