In recent years plastic pollution has raised a global environmental concern due to its limited biodegradable nature. Physicochemical degradation of millions of tons of plastic accumulates in the oceans, generating a disproportionate amount of fragments with a size of less than 5 millimeters, with smaller fragments ranging from 0.001 to 0.1 micrometers, classified as Microplastics and Nanoplastics respectively. These pollutants can affect both terrestrial and aquatic environments, reaching humans through the food chain and resulting in an ecological risk to human health.
It is known that microplastics and nanoplastics are able to accumulate in organs and trigger inflammatory processes, endocrine disturbances, oxidative stress, and apoptosis; however, it is not yet clarified how they affect living organisms. In fact, despite the impact of micro and nanoplastics on biota being currently the subject of numerous scientific studies, field data include different concentrations, several types of microplastics, various model organisms, and damage targets. Moreover, there is emerging evidence classifying these contaminants as potential carriers of other toxic substances.
The goal of this Research Topic is to cover novel significant in vivo and in vitro research evaluating the actual toxicological and genotoxicological effects of micro and nanoplastics on human and animal model, with a focus on clarifying the pathological mechanisms both at the cellular and systemic level of chronic and acute micro and/or nanoplastics exposure, their ability to disrupt the endocrine system and the long-term biological and developmental effects of these contaminants.
More specifically, we are interested in collecting articles examining the effects of microplastics and nanoplastics in organs and tissues as well as at cellular levels including gametes and embryos. A further important focus of the topic is achieving hard data on their role as a vector of other contaminants ubiquitously present in the environment, therefore establishing any harmful synergistic effects and propose health protection strategies.
Researchers are invited to contribute with original manuscripts, review, and meta-analysis articles to highlight the mechanisms through which different types of micro and nanoplastics are released into the environment as pollutants and how they contribute to induce genetic, cellular and organ disturbances. Studies investigating oxidative stress and inflammation induction, as well as clarifying studies on their effects in association with other substances will be appreciated. Lastly, contributions on safety strategies will be of great help to fill the present research topic and guarantee new perspectives for human and animal health safeguards.
Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:
-Toxicological, Eco-toxicological and Genotoxicological effects on microplastics and nanoplastics.
- Endocrine disorders caused by exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics.
-DNA-damage response following microplastics and nanoplastics exposure.
- Vector ability of microplastics for chemicals.
-Strategies involved in safety against deleterious effects of micro and nanoplastic on organisms.
-Long-term, developmental and intergenerational effects of exposure to microplastics and
nanoplastics
Keywords:
Microplastics; Nanoplastics; Eco-Toxicology; Endocrine disorder; Oxidative stress; Inflammation; Genetic Damage; Human Health;
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
In recent years plastic pollution has raised a global environmental concern due to its limited biodegradable nature. Physicochemical degradation of millions of tons of plastic accumulates in the oceans, generating a disproportionate amount of fragments with a size of less than 5 millimeters, with smaller fragments ranging from 0.001 to 0.1 micrometers, classified as Microplastics and Nanoplastics respectively. These pollutants can affect both terrestrial and aquatic environments, reaching humans through the food chain and resulting in an ecological risk to human health.
It is known that microplastics and nanoplastics are able to accumulate in organs and trigger inflammatory processes, endocrine disturbances, oxidative stress, and apoptosis; however, it is not yet clarified how they affect living organisms. In fact, despite the impact of micro and nanoplastics on biota being currently the subject of numerous scientific studies, field data include different concentrations, several types of microplastics, various model organisms, and damage targets. Moreover, there is emerging evidence classifying these contaminants as potential carriers of other toxic substances.
The goal of this Research Topic is to cover novel significant in vivo and in vitro research evaluating the actual toxicological and genotoxicological effects of micro and nanoplastics on human and animal model, with a focus on clarifying the pathological mechanisms both at the cellular and systemic level of chronic and acute micro and/or nanoplastics exposure, their ability to disrupt the endocrine system and the long-term biological and developmental effects of these contaminants.
More specifically, we are interested in collecting articles examining the effects of microplastics and nanoplastics in organs and tissues as well as at cellular levels including gametes and embryos. A further important focus of the topic is achieving hard data on their role as a vector of other contaminants ubiquitously present in the environment, therefore establishing any harmful synergistic effects and propose health protection strategies.
Researchers are invited to contribute with original manuscripts, review, and meta-analysis articles to highlight the mechanisms through which different types of micro and nanoplastics are released into the environment as pollutants and how they contribute to induce genetic, cellular and organ disturbances. Studies investigating oxidative stress and inflammation induction, as well as clarifying studies on their effects in association with other substances will be appreciated. Lastly, contributions on safety strategies will be of great help to fill the present research topic and guarantee new perspectives for human and animal health safeguards.
Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:
-Toxicological, Eco-toxicological and Genotoxicological effects on microplastics and nanoplastics.
- Endocrine disorders caused by exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics.
-DNA-damage response following microplastics and nanoplastics exposure.
- Vector ability of microplastics for chemicals.
-Strategies involved in safety against deleterious effects of micro and nanoplastic on organisms.
-Long-term, developmental and intergenerational effects of exposure to microplastics and
nanoplastics
Keywords:
Microplastics; Nanoplastics; Eco-Toxicology; Endocrine disorder; Oxidative stress; Inflammation; Genetic Damage; Human Health;
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.