A critical review of microplastics toxicity and potential adverse outcome pathway in human gastrointestinal tract following oral exposure
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Jones, Lorna R
Wright, Stephanie J
Gant, Timothy W
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are typically produced via environmental degradation of larger plastics, where they enter the human food chain. MPs are complex materials containing chemical and physical characteristics that can potentially affect their hazard and exposure. These physical properties can be altered by environmental exposure potentially altering any risk assessment conducted on the primary material. We conducted a literature review using an Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP)-based approach from Molecular Initiating Event (MIE) to cell effect event to identify multiple knowledge gaps that affect MPs hazard assessment. There is some convergence of key biological events but could relate to most lying along well-established biological effector pathways such as apoptosis which can respond to many MIEs. In contrast, MIEs of chemicals will be via protein interaction. As MPs may occur in the lumen of the alimentary canal for example to the mucus, therefore, not requiring translocation of MPs across the epithelial membrane. At the other end of the AOP, currently it is not possible to identify a single adverse outcome at the organ level. This work did establish a clear need to understand both external and internal exposure (resulting from translocation) and develop hazard data at both levels to inform on risk assessments.
Date Issued
2023-08-15
Date Acceptance
2023-08-29
Citation
Toxicology Letters, 2023, 385, pp.51-60
ISSN
0378-4274
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Start Page
51
End Page
60
Journal / Book Title
Toxicology Letters
Volume
385
Copyright Statement
© 2023 Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37659479
PII: S0378-4274(23)00255-2
Subjects
AOP
Ingestion
Intestinal
Particles
Polymer
Humans
Adverse Outcome Pathways
Microplastics
Plastics
Risk Assessment
Gastrointestinal Tract
Translocation, Genetic
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
Netherlands
Date Publish Online
2023-09-01