Human Exposure to Microplastics: Pathways, Internal Distribution, Analytical Detection, and Emerging Toxicological Implications
Abstract
The global proliferation of plastic materials has led to an unprecedented accumulation of microplastics and nanoplastics in natural ecosystems, with growing evidence indicating their pervasive presence within the human body. Recent advancements in analytical detection have confirmed microplastics in human blood, lung tissue, liver tissue, and other biological matrices, raising profound concerns regarding their potential health implications. This article presents a comprehensive and theoretically grounded examination of human exposure to microplastics, focusing on environmental sources, exposure pathways, internal distribution mechanisms, detection methodologies, and emerging toxicological evidence. Drawing strictly on peer-reviewed references, this work synthesizes atmospheric, dietary, and occupational exposure routes, while critically examining the physicochemical properties of microplastics that influence bioavailability and biological persistence. Particular emphasis is placed on analytical challenges in detecting microplastics in complex human samples, including the application of μFTIR, GC-MS pyrolysis, and nanoparticle tracking analysis. The article further explores mechanistic insights into tissue translocation, inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, reproductive toxicity, and potential synergistic effects with co-exposed pollutants such as metals and metalloids. By integrating findings from environmental science, toxicology, and biomedical research, this study highlights critical knowledge gaps, methodological limitations, and future research priorities essential for understanding the long-term implications of microplastic exposure on human health. The analysis underscores the urgent need for standardized definitions, harmonized methodologies, and interdisciplinary approaches to accurately assess risk and inform public health policy.
Keywords
References
Similar Articles
- Dr. Alejandro M. Cortés, Climate Vulnerability, Environmental Change, and Adaptive Pathways: Integrating Biodiversity, Agriculture, Water, Energy, Urban Systems, and Human Mobility in a Warming World , International Journal of Next-Generation Engineering and Technology: Vol. 3 No. 01 (2026): Volume 03 Issue 01
- Dr. Ethan Williams, Dr. Olivia Carter, Dr. Liam Anderson, Autonomous Fault Management in Cloud Environments Through Deep Learning-Based Decision Making , International Journal of Next-Generation Engineering and Technology: Vol. 3 No. 01 (2026): Volume 03 Issue 01
- Andras Varga, A Socio-Technical Framework for Error Budget–Driven Reliability Governance in Cloud-Native and Edge-Integrated Distributed Systems , International Journal of Next-Generation Engineering and Technology: Vol. 3 No. 01 (2026): Volume 03 Issue 01
- Mateo Laurent Dubois, Adaptive Chaos Engineering and AI-Driven Dependability Modeling for Resilient Cloud-Native and Safety-Critical Systems , International Journal of Next-Generation Engineering and Technology: Vol. 3 No. 01 (2026): Volume 03 Issue 01
- Samnardo Martins, AI-Augmented Paradigms In Enterprise Software Refactoring And Development: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Contemporary Approaches And Theoretical Implications , International Journal of Next-Generation Engineering and Technology: Vol. 1 No. 01 (2024): Volume 01 Issue 01
- Aghasi Gevorgyan, Cybersecurity in Networks Supporting Card Payment Systems , International Journal of Next-Generation Engineering and Technology: Vol. 3 No. 02 (2026): Volume 03 Issue 02
- Dr. Elena Markovic, Adaptive Latency-Aware Microservice Orchestration and Anomaly-Resilient Edge–Cloud Architectures for Mixed Reality and Time-Critical Applications , International Journal of Next-Generation Engineering and Technology: Vol. 1 No. 01 (2024): Volume 01 Issue 01
- Dr. Arjun Prakash Nair, Dr. Nurul Syafiqah Binti Hassan, Prof. Chen Wei Liang, CAPACITANCE BIOSENSORS FOR THE RAPID DETECTION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI IN WATER , International Journal of Next-Generation Engineering and Technology: Vol. 1 No. 01 (2024): Volume 01 Issue 01
- Dr. Akmal Rakhimov, Role of Dashboard-Driven Insights in Client Management Documentation for Rural Lending Organizations , International Journal of Next-Generation Engineering and Technology: Vol. 3 No. 01 (2026): Volume 03 Issue 01
- Ismoyilov Diyorbek Bektemir og’li, Fayzillayeva Oykhon Qodir qizi, Esanova Dilsinoy Dilmurod qizi, Artificial Intelligence Today And In The Future , International Journal of Next-Generation Engineering and Technology: Vol. 3 No. 01 (2026): Volume 03 Issue 01
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.