Cellular and Systemic Effects of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Mammals-What We Know So Far

Microplastics (MP) and nanoplastics (NP) are accumulating more and more in our environment and have been frequently detected in water and soil, but also in a variety of mainly marine organisms. Polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene are those most commonly found. Once in the environment, MP/NP are carriers for many other substances, which often convey toxic effects. Even though intuitively it is thought that ingesting MP/NP cannot be healthy, little is known about their effects on mammalian cells and organisms so far. To better understand the potential hazards of MP/NP on humans and to offer an overview of the already associated pathological effects, we conducted a comprehensive literature review on cellular effects, as well as experimental animal studies on MP/NP in mammals.