REVIEW article
Front. Neurosci.
Sec. Neuroenergetics and Brain Health
From Environment to Brain: The Role of Microplastics 1 in Neurobehavioral Disorders
Provisionally accepted
- Zhangjiagang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhangjiagang, China
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In recent years, the pervasive presence of microplastics has attracted significant attention from the 10 scientific community, particularly concerning their potential implications for human health. 11 Current literature suggests that microplastics may adversely affect the nervous system, with 12 emerging evidence linking them to neurobehavioral disorders. However, many questions remain 13 regarding the pathways of their environmental exposure, the specific effects on neurobehavior, and 14 the underlying mechanisms of their impact. This review aims to explore the routes through which 15 humans are exposed to microplastics, monitor behavioral changes associated with microplastic 16 exposure, and examine how these particles infiltrate the body and traverse the blood-brain barrier. 17 Several perspectives will be considered in assessing the potential mechanisms by which 18 microplastics may influence neurobehavioral disorders, including oxidative stress, 19 neurotransmitter regulation, and neuroplasticity. The article concludes by summarizing the effects 20 of microplastics on neurobehavioral disorders, such as neurodegeneration and mood disorders, 21 while analyzing the latest research findings. The primary objective of this study is to elucidate the 22 neurotoxic effects of microplastics and their potential biological mechanisms, as well as to provide 23 new insights and recommendations for future research in this domain.
Keywords: Microplastics, nanoplastics, Neurobehavioral disorders, Neurotoxicity, Environmental effects
Received: 23 Aug 2025; Accepted: 12 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zhang, Wu, Wu, Qin, Zhu, Shen, Chen and Chen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Zhujun Chen, 13913618154@126.com
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