TY - JOUR
T1 - A Review of Microplastics in Table salt, Drinking Water, and Air
T2 - Direct Human Exposure
AU - Zhang, Qun
AU - Xu, Elvis Genbo
AU - Li, Jiana
AU - Chen, Qiqing
AU - Ma, Liping
AU - Zeng, Eddy Y
AU - Shi, Huahong
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - The ubiquity of microplastics in aquatic and terrestrial environments and related ecological impacts have gained global attention. Microplastics have been detected in table salt, drinking water, and air, posing inevitable human exposure risk. However, rigorous analytical methods for detection and characterization of microplastics remain scarce. Knowledge about the potential adverse effects on human health via dietary and respiratory exposures is also limited. To address these issues, we reviewed 46 publications concerning abundances, potential sources, and analytical methods of microplastics in table salt, drinking water, and air. We also summarized probable translocation and accumulation pathways of microplastics within human body. Human body burdens of microplastics through table salt, drinking water, and inhalation were estimated to be (0-7.3)×104, (0-4.7)×103, and (0-3.0)×107 items per person per year, respectively. The intake of microplastics via inhalation, especially via indoor air, was much higher than those via other exposure routes. Moreover, microplastics in the air impose threats to both respiratory and digestive systems through breathing and ingestion. Given the life-time inevitable exposure to microplastics, we urgently call for a better understanding of the potential hazards of microplastics to human health.
AB - The ubiquity of microplastics in aquatic and terrestrial environments and related ecological impacts have gained global attention. Microplastics have been detected in table salt, drinking water, and air, posing inevitable human exposure risk. However, rigorous analytical methods for detection and characterization of microplastics remain scarce. Knowledge about the potential adverse effects on human health via dietary and respiratory exposures is also limited. To address these issues, we reviewed 46 publications concerning abundances, potential sources, and analytical methods of microplastics in table salt, drinking water, and air. We also summarized probable translocation and accumulation pathways of microplastics within human body. Human body burdens of microplastics through table salt, drinking water, and inhalation were estimated to be (0-7.3)×104, (0-4.7)×103, and (0-3.0)×107 items per person per year, respectively. The intake of microplastics via inhalation, especially via indoor air, was much higher than those via other exposure routes. Moreover, microplastics in the air impose threats to both respiratory and digestive systems through breathing and ingestion. Given the life-time inevitable exposure to microplastics, we urgently call for a better understanding of the potential hazards of microplastics to human health.
KW - Drinking Water
KW - Environmental Monitoring
KW - Humans
KW - Microplastics
KW - Plastics
KW - Sodium Chloride, Dietary
KW - Water Pollutants, Chemical
U2 - 10.1021/acs.est.9b04535
DO - 10.1021/acs.est.9b04535
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 32119774
VL - 54
SP - 3740
EP - 3751
JO - Environmental Science & Technology (Washington)
JF - Environmental Science & Technology (Washington)
SN - 0013-936X
IS - 7
ER -