Overview of microplastic pollution and its influence on the health of organisms

Abstract

Microplastic pollution has gradually become a major global concern, due to the widespread use of plastics. Microplastics enter the environment and are degradated, while also being ingested by organisms, affecting various physiological functions and adversely affecting the health of organisms. Microplastic pollution is currently a wide concern, but data on the impact on organisms is still not sufficient. Therefore, this review summarizes the research on microplastic pollution in marine, soil and fresh water, and its impact on organisms, focusing on the effects of microplastics on organisms’ feeding behavior and oxidative stress responses, intestinal microbes and reproductive function, and the combined effects of microplastic pollutants on organisms. We also summarized the various possible ways of microplastics entering into the human body, and posing a potential threat to human health, which still needs further research.

Keywords:

• Microplastics
• microplastic pollution
• toxicological effect
• health

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that all the data used in the article supporting this study are available within the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Project of Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, China (Grant No. 2020A1515110362), Guangdong Provincial Department of Education Innovative School Project, China (Grant No.2020KZDZX1110),Guangdong Higher Education Teaching Research and Reform, China(Guangdong teach high number[2021]29), Undergraduate innovation and entrepreneurship Project of Guangdong Ocean University, China(s20210566028).