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Plastic-Derived Pollutants as Emerging Modifiers of Viral Diseases
Fatima Hisam1, Ramina Kordbacheh1, Ebenezer Senu1
1Biological Sciences Department, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA.
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 28, 2026
Summary
Plastic pollutants like phthalates, BPA, and PFAS disrupt immune function, impacting viral infections. Microplastics also carry pathogens, worsening disease outcomes and highlighting the link between environmental health and infectious disease research.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Virology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Plastic pollutants (phthalates, BPA, PFAS, microplastics) are emerging environmental cofactors influencing infectious disease dynamics.
- These chemicals alter immune function, host-pathogen interactions, and viral survival/transmission.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current evidence on plastic-associated pollutants and their role in viral infections.
- To emphasize the chemistry, environmental occurrence, and biological activity of these pollutants.
Main Methods:
- Literature review compiling evidence on plastic pollutants and viral infections.
- Analysis of chemical properties, environmental presence, and biological effects.
- Focus on specific pollutants like DEHP, BPA, PFAS, and microplastics.
Main Results:
- Phthalates (DEHP, DBP) modulate immune signaling and exacerbate viral infections (Dengue, Coxsackievirus B3).
- BPA disrupts endocrine and immune systems, worsening viral myocarditis and influenza outcomes.
- PFAS alter adaptive immunity, increasing susceptibility to herpesviruses, hepatitis, and influenza.
- Microplastics act as pathogen carriers, stabilize viral RNA, and skew immune responses.
Conclusions:
- Plastic pollutants significantly impact viral pathogenesis by altering immune responses and host-pathogen interactions.
- Integrating environmental health and infectious disease research is crucial for understanding these complex interactions.
- Further research is needed to address knowledge gaps in pollutant mechanisms and their effects on viral diseases.
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