Background and Objective: Microplastic and nanoplastic particles, due to their small size, easily enter water, soil, and air, and by adsorbing hazardous pollutants, pose a serious threat to ecosystems and human health. This study aims to review and categorize the toxic effects of these particles on the environment and humans by examining the current knowledge in this field.
Methods: In this narrative review study, articles published from 2000 to 2025 regarding the toxicity of nano- and microplastics in human cells were analyzed. These articles were searched using English keywords such as keywords "Microplastics," "Nanoplastics," "tissues", " Health effect", "Human," and "Cell" were searched in the databases of PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Additionally, the keywords "nanoplastic", "microplastic", "Human", "cell", "tissues" and " Health effects" were used to search the SID, Magiran, and Irandoc databases.
Findings: A total of 112 articles were selected from scientific databases based on the research topic, and 84 articles were excluded due to lack of relevance to the main keywords. According to the available data, the selected articles were categorized based on the effects of micro- and nanoplastics on the liver, kidneys, placenta, lungs, nerve cells, digestive system, blood, and immune system.
Conclusion: The toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics depends on several factors, including particle size, exposure level and duration, and the type of target cell. These particles, especially nanoplastics that can penetrate various tissues and even reach the brain, pose significant risks to human health and ecosystem balance. Therefore, a more precise understanding of toxicity mechanisms and reducing exposure to these particles is essential for protecting human health and the environment.
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