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Health impacts of microplastic and nanoplastic exposure

Nature Medicine volume 31, pages 2873–2887 (2025)Cite this article

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Abstract

As evidence demonstrating the presence of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in the human body accumulates, so do concerns about their potential health impacts. Multiple factors determine the properties and behavior of MNPs—including polymer type, size, shape and the presence of a biocorona, among others—which place high demands on analytical methodology and tools for assessment of potential adverse health effects. Experimental models have shown that MNPs can cross cell barriers in the human lung and intestine and reach systemic circulation and subsequently tissues such as reproductive organs, placenta and brain. Early clinical findings indicate that MNPs may be associated with adverse health outcomes, including immune modulation, reproductive effects and cardiovascular effects. However, these studies typically suffer from low patient numbers and inadequate MNP exposure assessment, which precludes adequate risk assessment. Still, outcomes from animal and cell-based analyses generally support the preliminary clinical findings. To conduct more robust human studies, maturation of methods for exposure and effect assessment are crucial. Addressing these challenges will improve scientific research on the health impact of MNPs, which is urgently needed.

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Fig. 1: MNP exposure and cellular effects.
Fig. 2: Scoring of human exposure assessment studies.
Fig. 3: Scoring of in vitro studies.

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Acknowledgements

M.H.L. and F.N. received funding from MOMENTUM project 458001101 made possible by: Programme Microplastics & Health https://www.zonmw.nl/en/programma-opslag-en/microplastics-health/) and Health~Holland, Top Sector Life Sciences & Health (https://www.health-holland.com). M.H.L. also received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program project Polyrisk (grant agreement no. 964766). F.B. and K.J.H. received funding from ZonMW and the Microplastics & Health program MOMENTUM Breakthrough project MLIdent (project no. 04580012320011).

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  1. Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Marja H. Lamoree, Jeske van Boxel, Federica Nardella, Kas J. Houthuijs, Sicco H. Brandsma, Frederic Béen & Majorie B. M. van Duursen

  2. KWR Water Research Institute, Nieuwegein, the Netherlands

    Frederic Béen

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Lamoree, M.H., van Boxel, J., Nardella, F. et al. Health impacts of microplastic and nanoplastic exposure. Nat Med 31, 2873–2887 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-03902-5

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