To Waste or Not to Waste: Questioning Potential Health Risks of Micro- and Nanoplastics with a Focus on Their Ingestion and Potential Carcinogenicity

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Authors	GRUBER Elisabeth S STADLBAUER Vanessa PICHLER Verena RESCH-FAUSTER Katharina TODOROVIC Andrea MEISEL Thomas C TRAWOEGER Sibylle HOLLOCZKI Oldamur TURNER Suzanne Dawn WADSAK Wolfgang VETHAAK A Dick KENNER Lukas
Year of publication	2023
Type	Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source	EXPOSURE AND HEALTH
MU Faculty or unit	Central European Institute of Technology
Citation
Web	https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12403-022-00470-8
Doi	http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12403-022-00470-8
Keywords	Microplastic; Nanoplastic; Carcinogenesis; Human health; Bioethics issue
Description	Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are recognized as emerging contaminants, especially in food, with unknown health significance. MNPs passing through the gastrointestinal tract have been brought in context with disruption of the gut microbiome. Several molecular mechanisms have been described to facilitate tissue uptake of MNPs, which then are involved in local inflammatory and immune responses. Furthermore, MNPs can act as potential transporters ("vectors") of contaminants and as chemosensitizers for toxic substances ("Trojan Horse effect"). In this review, we summarize current multidisciplinary knowledge of ingested MNPs and their potential adverse health effects. We discuss new insights into analytical and molecular modeling tools to help us better understand the local deposition and uptake of MNPs that might drive carcinogenic signaling. We present bioethical insights to basically re-consider the "culture of consumerism." Finally, we map out prominent research questions in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.