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

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Gruber, Elisabeth S 
Stadlbauer, Vanessa 
Pichler, Verena 
Resch-Fauster, Katharina 
Todorovic, Andrea 

Abstract

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.

Description

Funder: Medical University of Vienna

Keywords

Bioethics issue, Carcinogenesis, Human health, Microplastic, Nanoplastic

Journal Title

Expo Health

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2451-9766
2451-9685

Volume Title

15

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
Austrian Science Fund FWF (P29251)