Understanding Microplastics and their Role in Causing Cancer
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are small particles less than 5mm, resulting from the degradation of various big plastic items, manufacturing pellets, tyre wear and synthetic textiles. The annual human intake of microplastics from the environment through food, drinks, skin and inhalation is alarming and of a great concern. Microplastics can cause inflammation, cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and DNA damage at the cellular level. This can further interfere with important biological processes in the human body affecting viability of the cells, mitotic activity, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and barrier integrity. These changes have shown to produce cancerous effects in pre-clinical studies. While various important remedial steps are being implemented like reducing, reusing and recycling wastes with their proper disposal are being implemented, but MPs are not responsive to, and escape from most of the waste management methods which are currently in use. This is mainly due to their size and origin. Novel concepts, and innovative methods need to be developed to plug all MP escape routes within waste management processes by carrying out further research on the escape pathways, MP flows, prevention planning, and enforcing quality control measures.
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