Systematic Review on Indoor Microplastics: Unveiling Sources, Exposure Pathways, and Human Health Implications
Abstract
Indoor microplastics present a noteworthy and all-encompassing environmental issue that requires careful attention and contemplation. This comprehensive review navigates the intricate landscape of indoor microplastics, investigating their potential sources, pathways of exposure, and implications for human health. Commencing with an exploration of the origins and varieties of polymers within indoor environments, the review dissects commonplace products and manufacturing processes, identifying them as substantial contributors. Subsequent sections elucidate the diverse ways individuals encounter indoor microplastics, encompassing airborne dissemination, ingestion via dust and food, and skin contact with subsequent absorption. The critical evaluation of advancements in detection and measurement techniques addresses the complexities associated with accurately quantifying indoor microplastics. The review scrutinizes potential health risks linked to exposure, emphasizing cumulative effects and the vulnerability of specific populations. Prolonged contact with heightened concentrations of microplastics can bring about various consequences, including oxidative stress, DNA damage, organ dysfunction, metabolic disorders, immune responses, neurotoxicity, and reproductive and developmental toxicity. In the mitigation segment, strategies are outlined to curb microplastic presence at its source, manage indoor air quality, and advocate for policy and regulatory interventions. Identifying…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Green Chemistry: A Framework for a Sustainable Future
- Nano/micro-plastic, an invisible threat getting into the brain
- Emerging contaminants antibiotic resistance genes and microplastics in the environment: Introduction to 21 review articles published in CREST during 2018–2022
- Water Resources and Sustainable Development
- Nano- and microplastics in the workplace
- Water Enclosure and World-Literature: New Perspectives on Hydro-Power and World-Ecology
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.