Microplastics and microbiota: deciphering the concealed environmental threats to health

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) have emerged as ubiquitous environmental pollutants, infiltrating terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric ecosystems. Recent research highlights a critical, bidirectional relationship between these particles and microbiota, particularly within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of humans and animals. The gut microbiota, a complex and diverse community of trillions of microbes residing in the human GI tract, plays a critical role in host digestion, metabolism, immune function, and overall health. Disruption of this microbial ecosystem, known as dysbiosis, has been linked to a wide range of diseases. MNP-induced gut dysbiosis also involves complex molecular mechanisms requiring integrative approaches. Multi-omics technologies are essential to identify pathways affected by exposure, including immune responses, oxidative stress, and host-microbe interactions. However, their use in human studies remains limited. Large-scale longitudinal studies combined with multi-omics analyses are crucial to clarify systemic health implications of microplastic exposure and develop mitigation strategies.