The bioaccumulation and carcinogenic potential of micro- and nanoplastics in humans

The rising concentrations of anthropogenic microplastics (MPs; 1 µm to 5 mm) and nanoplastics (NPs; < 1 µm) pollution pose a global crisis, presenting a grave threat to the ecosystem and the health of living creatures within. Studies between 2024 and 2025 reported the bioaccumulation of MPs and NPs (MNPs) in several human organs. However, unlike animal and cell line studies, the relationship between MNPs exposure and carcinogenesis in humans remains unclear. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive review article to summarize the bioaccumulation of different types of MNPs in human multi-system organs reported to date. In this article, we investigated the link between various types of MNPs and cancer in multi-system organs. Furthermore, we explored potential carcinogenic pathways and identified research gaps and populations at-risk. This article will provide a comprehensive understanding of the carcinogenic potential of MNPs and their implications for global public health. It highlights important directions for future research and emphasizes the necessity for interdisciplinary collaboration to tackle this significant global health challenge.