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A Detailed Review Study on Potential Effects of Microplastics and Additives of Concern on Human Health

Author

Listed:
  • Claudia Campanale

    (Water Research Institute-Italian National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Bari, BA, Italy)

  • Carmine Massarelli

    (Water Research Institute-Italian National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Bari, BA, Italy)

  • Ilaria Savino

    (Water Research Institute-Italian National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Bari, BA, Italy)

  • Vito Locaputo

    (Water Research Institute-Italian National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Bari, BA, Italy)

  • Vito Felice Uricchio

    (Water Research Institute-Italian National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Bari, BA, Italy)

Abstract

The distribution and abundance of microplastics into the world are so extensive that many scientists use them as key indicators of the recent and contemporary period defining a new historical epoch: The Plasticene. However, the implications of microplastics are not yet thoroughly understood. There is considerable complexity involved to understand their impact due to different physical–chemical properties that make microplastics multifaceted stressors. If, on the one hand, microplastics carry toxic chemicals in the ecosystems, thus serving as vectors of transport, they are themselves, on the other hand, a cocktail of hazardous chemicals that are added voluntarily during their production as additives to increase polymer properties and prolong their life. To date, there is a considerable lack of knowledge on the major additives of concern that are used in the plastic industry, on their fate once microplastics dispose into the environment, and on their consequent effects on human health when associated with micro and nanoplastics. The present study emphasizes the most toxic and dangerous chemical substances that are contained in all plastic products to describe the effects and implications of these hazardous chemicals on human health, providing a detailed overview of studies that have investigated their abundance on microplastics. In the present work, we conducted a capillary review of the literature on micro and nanoplastic exposure pathways and their potential risk to human health to summarize current knowledge with the intention of better focus future research in this area and fill knowledge gaps.

Suggested Citation

  • Claudia Campanale & Carmine Massarelli & Ilaria Savino & Vito Locaputo & Vito Felice Uricchio, 2020. "A Detailed Review Study on Potential Effects of Microplastics and Additives of Concern on Human Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-26, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:4:p:1212-:d:320324
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Saskia Rehse & Werner Kloas & Christiane Zarfl, 2018. "Microplastics Reduce Short-Term Effects of Environmental Contaminants. Part I: Effects of Bisphenol A on Freshwater Zooplankton Are Lower in Presence of Polyamide Particles," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-15, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Edris Bazrafshan & Hamid Reza Zakeri & Melissa Gurgel Adeodato Vieira & Zahra Derakhshan & Leili Mohammadi & Amin Mohammadpour & Amin Mousavi Khaneghah, 2022. "Slaughterhouse Wastewater Treatment by Integrated Chemical Coagulation and Electro-Fenton Processes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-15, September.
    2. Isabella Gambino & Francesco Bagordo & Tiziana Grassi & Alessandra Panico & Antonella De Donno, 2022. "Occurrence of Microplastics in Tap and Bottled Water: Current Knowledge," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-15, April.
    3. Erik D. Slawsky & Joel C. Hoffman & Kristen N. Cowan & Kristen M. Rappazzo, 2022. "Beneficial Use Impairments, Degradation of Aesthetics, and Human Health: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-17, May.
    4. Sri Widyastuti & Angga Susmana Abidin & Hikmaturrohmi Hikmaturrohmi & Bq Tri Khairina Ilhami & Nanda Sofian Hadi Kurniawan & Ahmad Jupri & Dining Aidil Candri & Andri Frediansyah & Eka Sunarwidhi Pras, 2023. "Microplastic Contamination in Different Marine Species of Bintaro Fish Market, Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-14, June.
    5. Claudia Campanale & Daniela Losacco & Mariangela Triozzi & Carmine Massarelli & Vito Felice Uricchio, 2022. "An Overall Perspective for the Study of Emerging Contaminants in Karst Aquifers," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-21, November.
    6. Carmen Rubio-Armendáriz & Samuel Alejandro-Vega & Soraya Paz-Montelongo & Ángel J. Gutiérrez-Fernández & Conrado J. Carrascosa-Iruzubieta & Arturo Hardisson-de la Torre, 2022. "Microplastics as Emerging Food Contaminants: A Challenge for Food Safety," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-14, January.
    7. Leonardo Alberghini & Alessandro Truant & Serena Santonicola & Giampaolo Colavita & Valerio Giaccone, 2022. "Microplastics in Fish and Fishery Products and Risks for Human Health: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-17, December.
    8. Nawaz, Ahmad & Razzak, Shaikh Abdur, 2024. "Co-pyrolysis of biomass and different plastic waste to reduce hazardous waste and subsequent production of energy products: A review on advancement, synergies, and future prospects," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    9. Andreas Brachner & Despina Fragouli & Iola F. Duarte & Patricia M. A. Farias & Sofia Dembski & Manosij Ghosh & Ivan Barisic & Daniela Zdzieblo & Jeroen Vanoirbeek & Philipp Schwabl & Winfried Neuhaus, 2020. "Assessment of Human Health Risks Posed by Nano-and Microplastics Is Currently Not Feasible," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-10, November.
    10. Chunhui Wang & Junhong Tang & Haixia Yu & Yiyi Wang & Huanxuan Li & Shaodan Xu & Gang Li & Qian Zhou, 2022. "Microplastic Pollution in the Soil Environment: Characteristics, Influencing Factors, and Risks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-14, October.
    11. Haigang Zhang & Yilin Hou & Wenjin Zhao & Hui Na, 2022. "Control Strategies of Plastic Biodegradation through Adjusting Additives Ratios Using In Silico Approaches Associated with Proportional Factorial Experimental Design," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-16, May.
    12. Diogo A. Ferreira-Filipe & Ana Paço & Armando C. Duarte & Teresa Rocha-Santos & Ana L. Patrício Silva, 2021. "Are Biobased Plastics Green Alternatives?—A Critical Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-16, July.
    13. Thanh T. Nguyen & Buddhima Indraratna, 2023. "Natural Fibre for Geotechnical Applications: Concepts, Achievements and Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, May.
    14. Gonca Alak & Mine Köktürk & Muhammed Atamanalp & Esat Mahmut Kocaman & Arzu Ucar & Nurinisa Esenbuğa & Sinan Özcan & Veysel Parlak, 2023. "Microplastic Abundance in Rainbow Trout Life Cycle: Step by Step," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-12, September.
    15. Antonio Ragusa & Maria Matta & Loredana Cristiano & Roberto Matassa & Ezio Battaglione & Alessandro Svelato & Caterina De Luca & Sara D’Avino & Alessandra Gulotta & Mauro Ciro Antonio Rongioletti & Pi, 2022. "Deeply in Plasticenta: Presence of Microplastics in the Intracellular Compartment of Human Placentas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-22, September.
    16. Stefania D'Angelo & Rosaria Meccariello, 2021. "Microplastics: A Threat for Male Fertility," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-11, March.
    17. Benjamin Gazeau & Roberto Minunno & Atiq Zaman & Faiz Shaikh, 2024. "Elevating Recycling Standards: Global Requirements for Plastic Traceability and Quality Testing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-16, June.
    18. Shampa Ghosh & Jitendra Kumar Sinha & Soumya Ghosh & Kshitij Vashisth & Sungsoo Han & Rakesh Bhaskar, 2023. "Microplastics as an Emerging Threat to the Global Environment and Human Health," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-17, July.
    19. Adam Krajewski & Agnieszka Hejduk & Leszek Hejduk, 2022. "First Evidence of Microplastic Presence in Bed Load Sediments of a Small Urban Stream in Warsaw," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-13, November.

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