Microplastics are ubiquitous environmental contaminants for which there are documented human exposures, but there is a paucity of research evaluating their impacts on human health. We conducted a rapid systematic review using the “Navigation Guide” systematic review method. We searched four databases in July 2022 and April 2024 with no restriction on the date. We included studies using predefined eligibility criteria that quantitatively examined the association of microplastic exposure with any health outcomes. We amended the eligibility criteria after screening studies and prioritized digestive, reproductive, and respiratory outcomes for further evaluation. We included three human observational studies examining reproductive (n = 2) and respiratory (n = 1) outcomes and 28 animal studies examining reproductive (n = 11), respiratory (n = 7), and digestive (n = 10) outcomes. For reproductive outcomes (sperm quality) and digestive outcomes (immunosuppresion) we rated overall body evidence as “high” quality and concluded microplastic exposure is “suspected” to adversely impact them. For reproductive outcomes (female follicles and reproductive hormones), digestive outcomes (gross or microanatomic colon/small intestine effects, alters cell proliferation and cell death, and chronic inflammation), and respiratory outcomes (pulmonary function, lung injury, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress) we rated the overall body of evidence as “moderate” quality and concluded microplastic exposure is “suspected” to adversely impact them. We concluded that exposure to microplastics is “unclassifiable” for birth outcomes and gestational age in humans on the basis of the “low” and “very low” quality of the evidence. We concluded that microplastics are “suspected” to harm human reproductive, digestive, and respiratory health, with a suggested link to colon and lung cancer. Future research on microplastics should investigate additional health outcomes impacted by microplastic exposure and identify strategies to reduce exposure.

中文翻译：

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微塑料暴露对人类消化、生殖和呼吸系统健康的影响：快速系统评价


微塑料是无处不在的环境污染物，有记录在案的人类接触情况，但缺乏评估其对人类健康影响的研究。我们使用 “Navigation Guide” 系统综述方法进行了快速系统综述。我们在 2022 年 7 月和 2024 年 4 月检索了四个数据库，对日期没有限制。我们纳入了使用预定义合格标准的研究，这些标准定量检查了微塑料暴露与任何健康结局的关联。我们在筛选研究后修改了纳入标准，并优先考虑消化、生殖和呼吸结局以进行进一步评估。我们纳入了 3 项检查生殖 （n = 2） 和呼吸 （n = 1） 结局的人类观察性研究，以及 28 项检查生殖 （n = 11）、呼吸 （n = 7） 和消化 （n = 10） 结局的动物研究。对于生殖结局（精子质量）和消化结局（免疫抑制），我们将整体身体证据评为“高质量”，并得出结论：“怀疑”微塑料暴露会对它们产生不利影响。对于生殖结局（女性卵泡和生殖激素）、消化结局（大体或显微解剖结肠/小肠影响、改变细胞增殖和细胞死亡以及慢性炎症）和呼吸结局（肺功能、肺损伤、慢性炎症和氧化应激），我们将整体证据质量评为“中等”，并得出结论：“怀疑”微塑料暴露会对其产生不利影响。我们得出结论，根据证据的“低”和“极低”质量，微塑料暴露对人类出生结局和胎龄“无法分类”。 我们得出的结论是，微塑料“怀疑”会危害人类生殖、消化和呼吸系统健康，并被认为与结肠癌和肺癌有关。未来对微塑料的研究应调查受微塑料暴露影响的其他健康结果，并确定减少接触的策略。