Exposure to microplastics during early developmental stage: Review of current evidence
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-2022
Abstract
In the last few decades, microplastics (MPs) have been among the emerging environmental pollutants that have received serious attention from scientists and the general population due to their wide range of potentially harmful effects on living organisms. MPs may originate from primary sources (micro-sized plastics manufactured on purpose) and secondary sources (breakdown of large plastic items through physical, chemical, and biological processes). Consequently, serious concerns are escalating because MPs can be easily disseminated and contaminate environments, including terrestrial, air, groundwater, marine, and freshwater systems. Furthermore, an exposure to even low doses of MPs during the early developmental stage may induce long-term health effects, even later in life. Accordingly, this study aims to gather the current evidence regarding the effects of MPs exposure on vital body systems, including the digestive, reproductive, central nervous, immune, and circulatory systems, during the early developmental stage. In addition, this study provides essential information about the possible emergence of various diseases later in life (i.e., adulthood).
Keywords
Microplastics, Early developmental stage, Prepubertal development, Plastics, Human health
Divisions
fac_med
Funders
Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) [FRGS/1/2019/WAB05/UPM/02/14],Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Publication Title
Toxics
Volume
10
Issue
10
Publisher
MDPI
Publisher Location
ST ALBAN-ANLAGE 66, CH-4052 BASEL, SWITZERLAND