Effects of Nanoplastics and Microplastics on the Health of the Peripheral and Central Nervous System

Introduction: Microplastic and nanoplastic pollution has been one of the most important environmental issues in the last decade and has always posed an increasing threat to human and animal health.The use of plastics has gradually increased as they have become necessary in every industry due to their numerous properties such as stability, hardness, and affordability.It is predicted that 33 billion tons of plastic waste will be generated worldwide by 2050.The presence of micro-and nanoscale plastic residues in aquatic, terrestrial, and marine habitats is of particular concern.In addition to their inherent toxicity, plastics act as carriers and spreaders of diseases, infectious agents, and environmental pollutants in living organisms.Exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics leads to oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, DNA damage, inflammation, immune responses, neurotoxicity, and metabolic disorders, which ultimately affect the digestive, immune, respiratory, reproductive, and nervous systems.Over the past decade, particular attention has been paid to the effects of nanoplastics on the peripheral and central nervous systems, as these systems are the most sensitive to plastic particles.Conclusion: Currently, there is no comprehensive overview of the neurotoxic effects across various studies involving living organisms or cell cultures exposed to different types of particles, shapes, sizes, concentrations, and durations.The risks associated with neurotoxicity from exposure to micro-and nanoplastics are significant.