Microplastics can enter the human body through a variety of routes, such as the respiratory system, the digestive system and skin contact. Once in the human body, microplastics may cause varying degrees of harm to various organ systems. The main route for atmospheric microplastics to enter the human body is inhalation through the respiratory tract. The amount of microplastics inhaled per person is about (0.21-2.51) x 106 microplastics/year, including about (0.16-2.30) x 106 indoor microplastics and (0.46-2.10) x 105 outdoor microplastics.
Microplastics are ubiquitous in the atmosphere. Due to factors such as transportation, industrial emissions and construction activities, microplastic particles may be suspended in the air and inhaled into the lungs. In some specific work environments, such as plastics processing plants or landfills, the concentration of microplastic particles may be even higher, increasing the risk of entering the human body through the respiratory system.
The ecosystem impact of microplastics is multifaceted, and the widespread presence of these tiny plastic particles in the environment poses a serious threat to living systems due to their difficult-to-biodegrade nature.
The accumulation of microplastics in organisms poses a serious threat to living systems. Accumulation of microplastics in living organisms, because of their tiny size, is easily ingested by marine organisms such as fish, shellfish and birds, resulting in damage to the digestive system or even death. These microplastics are difficult to excrete and gradually accumulate in the body, producing long-term toxic effects.
