Journal Article

A combinational threat of micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) as potential emerging vectors for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to human health

Santhanam, Sanjai Dharshan, Guru, Ajay, Priya, P. Snega, Ramamurthy, Karthikeyan, Sudhakaran, Gokul, Arockiaraj, Jesu

2024

Overview

Micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are prevalent in ecosystems due to their exceptional properties and widespread use, profoundly affecting both human health and ecosystem. Upon entering the environment, MNPs and PFAS undergo various transformations, such as weathering, transport, and accumulation, potentially altering their characteristics and structural dynamics. Their interactions, governed by factors like hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, Van der Waals forces, electrostatic attractions, and environmental conditions, can amplify or mitigate their toxicity toward human health within ecological conditions. Several studies demonstrate the in vivo effects of PFAS and MNPs, encompassing growth and reproductive impairments, oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, apoptosis, DNA damage, genotoxicity, immunological responses, behavioral changes, modifications in gut microbiota, and histopathological alterations. Moreover, in vitro investigations highlight impacts on cellular uptake, affecting survival, proliferation, membrane integrity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and antioxidant responses. This review combines knowledge on the co-existence and adsorption of PFAS and MNPs in the environment, defining their combined in vivo and in vitro impacts. It provides evidence of potential human health implications. While significant research originates from China, Europe, and the USA, studies from other regions are limited. Only freshwater and marine organisms and their impacts are extensively studied in comparison to terrestrial organisms and humans. Nonetheless, detailed investigations are lacking regarding their fate, combined environmental exposure, mode of action, and implications in human health studies. Ongoing research is imperative to comprehensively understand environmental exposures and interaction mechanisms, addressing the need to elucidate these aspects thoroughly.

• Publisher: Springer International Publishing,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: adsorption / Animals / Apoptosis / Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution / Biocompatibility / Cell survival / China / DNA damage / Dynamic structural analysis / Earth and Environmental Science / Ecological conditions / Ecological effects / Ecology / ecosystems / Ecotoxicology / Electrostatic properties / Environment / Environmental conditions / environmental exposure / Environmental Management / Environmental Monitoring / Environmental Pollutants - toxicity / Europe / Fluorocarbons / Freshwater / Freshwater organisms / Genotoxicity / Histopathology / human health / Humans / hydrogen / Hydrogen bonding / Hydrophobicity / Immunology / In vivo methods and tests / Inland water environment / Intestinal microflora / intestinal microorganisms / Marine organisms / mechanism of action / Microbial flora / Mode of action / Monitoring/Environmental Analysis / Nanoparticles - toxicity / Neurotoxicity / Oxidative stress / Perfluoroalkyl & polyfluoroalkyl substances / Perfluorochemicals / Plastics / Reactive oxygen species / Review / Structural dynamics / Van der Waals forces / Vectors / Weathering