Immune Disruption and Disease Development by Microplastic Exposure

Global plastic production will grow from 464 tons in 2020 to 884 tons in 2050, and microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) resulting from the decay of larger pieces have become ubiquitous. Thus, almost all humans are exposed to these particles through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. Research on MPs has grown significantly since their major start in 2018, but because of their novelty, MPs’ full effects on human health are not well defined, especially in the immune system. This paper aims to provide a review of this topic. An array of contemporary data has been gathered regarding the effect of MPs on the different types of cells and responses involved in the immune system. This paper also explores the roadblocks in researching this topic. It is concluded that MPs weaken the innate and adaptive immune system, can accumulate in lymphatic tissue, cause inflammation and inflammation related processes across the body, which result in a variety of negative health effects from autoimmune reactions to cancer susceptibility. This paper provides a comprehensive foundation for the current understanding of the impacts of microplastics on human health and underscores the numerous aspects in which further research is needed.