Microplastics
"The ACC also criticized that finding, saying, “The amount of microplastics in the environment represents only 4 percent of particles collected on average… The other 96 percent is comprised of natural materials like minerals, dirt and sand, insect parts, pollen and more.”"
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/microplastics-are-in-our-bodies-how-much-do-they-harm-us
"Microplastics induce toxic effects on humans and animals, such as cytotoxicity, immune response, oxidative stress, barrier attributes, and genotoxicity, even at minimal dosages of 10 μg/mL. Ingestion of microplastics by marine animals results in alterations in gastrointestinal tract physiology, immune system depression, oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, differential gene expression, and growth inhibition."
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10311-023-01593-3
"Abundance of microplastics in aquatic and marine ecosystems is contaminating the seafood and it is leading to transfer of toxic pollutants to human beings."
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32504956/
"Tiny particles of plastic have been found everywhere — from the deepest place on the planet, the Mariana Trench, to the top of Mount Everest. And now more and more studies are finding that microplastics, defined as plastic pieces less than 5 millimeters across, are also in our bodies."
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/microplastics-human-bodies-health-risks
"Australians are eating and inhaling significant numbers of tiny plastics at home, our new research shows.
These “microplastics”, which are derived from petrochemicals extracted from oil and gas products, are settling in dust around the house.
Some of these particles are toxic to humans — they can carry carcinogenic or mutagenic chemicals, meaning they potentially cause cancer and/or damage our DNA."
https://theconversation.com/were-all-ingesting-microplastics-at-home-and-these-might-be-toxic-for-our-health-here-are-some-tips-to-reduce-your-risk-159537
"Recent evidence indicates that humans constantly inhale and ingest microplastics; however, whether these contaminants pose a substantial risk to human health is far from understood. The lack of crucial data on exposure and hazard represents key knowledge gaps t hat need to be addressed to move forward."
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abe5041
"Microplastic pollution has been detected in human blood for the first time, with scientists finding the tiny particles in almost 80% of the people tested."
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/24/microplastics-found-in-human-blood-for-first-time
"A September 21 article in Discover noted that the tiny plastic particles are everywhere, including in our bodies. The particles have been found in blood, baby poop, placentas, breastmilk, and in lung tissue, according to the article. A 2019 report found that people in the U.S. consume from 39,000 to 52,000 particles of microplastics every year."
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/microplastics-may-disproportionately-harm-vulnerable-communities/
"The ubiquitous exposure of humans to microplastics (MPs) through inhalation of particles in air and ingestion in dust, water, and diet is well established. Humans are estimated to ingest tens of thousands to millions of MP particles annually, or on the order of several milligrams daily. Available information suggests that inhalation of indoor air and ingestion of drinking water bottled in plastic are the major sources of MP exposure."
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34484127/
Impact of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Human Health
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7920297/
Could Microplastics Be a Driver for Early Onset Colorectal Cancer?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10340669/
Microplastics, potential threat to patients with lung diseases
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9555848/