Unveiling micro-nanoplastics (MNPs) induced developmental toxicity, transgenerational transport and associated signaling pathways

Abstract

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) have emerged as pervasive environmental contaminants, raising significant concerns regarding their potential detrimental impacts on human health. These small plastic particles can infiltrate the body through ingestion, inhalation, and cutaneous exposure, resulting in a variety of harmful effects on aquatic and terrestrial organisms particularly during their vulnerable developmental stages. Despite increasing evidence of MNPs prevalence in the placenta and breast milk, less is known about their potential developmental hazards. Nevertheless, few transgenerational studies have demonstrated a variety of MNPs induced hazardous effects, including impaired embryogenesis, altered growth patterns, and abnormalities during development in offspring. These adverse developmental outcomes occur due to the accumulation of MNPs in progenies, which instigate oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, DNA damage, metabolic perturbations and endocrine disruption. Thus, the current review delves into the translocation of MNPs through placenta and breast milk, as well as their transgenerational bioaccumulation & implications in fetal and neonatal stages of different animal models. Moreover, this study also addresses the current research gaps and emphasizes the necessity to examine the long-term transgenerational impacts of MNPs in higher mammalian models. Furthermore, novel prevention and mitigation strategies are required to deal with the transgenerational hazards of MNPs. Additionally, formulations of vital public health policies and environmental protection measures are crucial for ground-level reduction of MNPs exposure.