Concerns about human health are growing as people are constantly exposed to MPs, in particular through the animal or plant food chain, food additives, beverages, and plastic packaging for food.
The mechanism of the degradation of primary microplastics to secondary ones is still not well known, but both groups have harmful effects on the environment and human health. About 80% of MPs in the environment correspond to fibers and fragments. The chemical formulas and structures of the most common primary MPs are listed in.
Due to the fact that plastics and MPs are hydrophobic and contain covalent bonds and functional groups resistant to attack, these substances are difficult to degrade. The degradation of plastics can take place mechanically, chemically, and physically but also biologically. The different ways of degradation are shown in.
The degradation process of (micro)plastics can be influenced by their internal properties (composition, material, structure, etc.) as well as external environmental conditions (pH, temperature, humidity, catalysts, enzymes, etc.).
Author(s) Details:
Csilla Mišľanová
Faculty of Nursing and Professional Health Studies, Institute of Nutrition, Slovak Medical University, 833 03, Bratislava, Slovakia
Martina Valachovičová
Faculty of Nursing and Professional Health Studies, Institute of Nutrition, Slovak Medical University, 833 03, Bratislava, Slovakia
Recent Global Research Developments in Impact of Microplastic Exposure on Infant Health
Plastic Contaminants and Health: Plastics found in our everyday environment are a growing concern for individual and population-level health. The extent of exposure and potential toxic effects of these contaminants on various human organ systems is becoming clearer [1].
Infiltration of MPs: Emerging research shows that MPs infiltrate water, soil, air, and even our bodies. Negative outcomes associated with MPs include interventions during labor and modestly lower scores on Apgar tests (which assess a baby’s overall health immediately after birth) [2].
Infant Vulnerability: Infants face higher risks due to undeveloped metabolizing enzymes, reduced MP removal ability, and sensitive organs. Breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months of life [3].
References
- Zurub RE, Cariaco Y, Wade MG and Bainbridge SA (2024) Microplastics exposure: implications for human fertility, pregnancy and child health. Front. Endocrinol. 14:1330396. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1330396
- Microplastics’ knowns, unknowns discussed by a physician-scientist
https://factor.niehs.nih.gov/2024/5/feature/4-feature-microplastics-and-nanoplastics - Mišľanová C, Valachovičová M, Slezáková Z. An Overview of the Possible Exposure of Infants to Microplastics. Life. 2024; 14(3):371. https://doi.org/10.3390/life14030371
