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REVIEW article

Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.
Sec. Oral Microbes and Host
Volume 14 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1492759
This article is part of the Research Topic Impact of oral and gut microbiome on health and diseases View all 4 articles

Microplastics and Human Health: Unveiling the Gut Microbiome Disruption and Chronic Disease Risks

Provisionally accepted
Sudipta S. Bora Sudipta S. Bora 1Rahul Gogoi Rahul Gogoi 2Madhurjya R. Sharma Madhurjya R. Sharma 2Anshu Chanderwal Anshu Chanderwal 3Madhurjya P. Borah Madhurjya P. Borah 4Priyadarshini Deka Priyadarshini Deka 2Jitul Bora Jitul Bora 2Romen S. Naorem Romen S. Naorem 1Jugabrata Das Jugabrata Das 2Anju B. Teli Anju B. Teli 1*
  • 1 Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, Jorhat, Assam, India
  • 2 Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India
  • 3 All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi, India
  • 4 Indian Institute of Technology Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Microplastics (MPs), defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, are increasingly recognized as environmental contaminants with potential health risks. These emerge as breakdown products of larger plastics and are omnipresent in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. They are primarily composed of polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and additives that enhance their performance. MPs also adsorb harmful environmental chemicals like persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals, posing risks to human and environmental health. Human exposure to MPs occurs mainly through ingestion and inhalation, with MPs detected in food products, water, and even the air. MPs have been shown to accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract, disrupting the gut microbiome, and causing dysbiosis-a harmful imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria. This disruption has been linked to various health issues, including gastrointestinal disorders, systemic inflammation, and chronic diseases. Furthermore, the gut-brain axis may be affected, with potential neuroinflammatory consequences. As research continues to unravel the health impacts of MP exposure, understanding the mechanisms of accumulation and the broader implications on human health is crucial. This review highlights the effects of MPs on human health, emphasizing their impact on the gut microbiome. We discuss the potential connections between MP exposure and cardiometabolic and inflammatory diseases, and disorders related to the Gut-Brain Axis. By synthesizing the latest research, this work sheds light on the silent yet pervasive threat posed by MPs and underscores the importance of further studies to understand their health impacts fully.

    Keywords: Microplastic, Human health, Gut Microbiota, Dysbiosis, chronic diseases, inflammation Font: (Default) Times New Roman Font: (Default) Times New Roman, BOLD, Font color: Red

    Received: 07 Sep 2024; Accepted: 25 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Bora, Gogoi, Sharma, Chanderwal, Borah, Deka, Bora, Naorem, Das and Teli. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Anju B. Teli, Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, Jorhat, Assam, India

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.