RELAÇÃO DA EXPOSIÇÃO E DA INGESTÃO DE MICROPLÁSTICOS PARA A SAÚDE NEUROLÓGICA
RELAÇÃO DA EXPOSIÇÃO E DA INGESTÃO DE MICROPLÁSTICOS PARA A SAÚDE NEUROLÓGICA
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.6221525181212
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Palavras-chave: Microplásticos. Sistema nervoso central. Neurotoxicidade.
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Keywords: Microplastics. Central nervous system. Neurotoxicity.
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Abstract: Human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) has been recognized as an emerging public health problem, with potential systemic repercussions, especially in the central nervous system (CNS). This chapter presents a systematic review of the scientific literature published between 2023 and 2025, aiming to analyze the main routes of human exposure, the biodistribution of MNPs, and their neurotoxicity mechanisms. Evidence indicates that widely used polymer particles, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyester, are detected in biological fluids and human tissues, including blood, placenta, cerebrospinal fluid, and brain regions. Experimental studies demonstrate that these particles can cross the blood-brain barrier and the transplacental barrier, accumulating in brain areas critical for neurodevelopment, such as the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and cerebellum. The described pathogenic mechanisms include neuroinflammation mediated by microglial activation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, alterations in synaptic plasticity, and disruption of the gut-brain axis. These processes are associated with cognitive deficits, behavioral changes, impairments in learning and memory, as well as the activation of molecular pathways related to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. In this context, micro- and nanoplastics act as biologically active agents capable of triggering relevant neurotoxic processes and should be recognized as emerging environmental factors with a potential impact on human neurological health throughout the life cycle.
- Raissa Carmem Sousa Silva
- Lilalea Gonçalves França
- Monique Santos do Carmo