J Xenobiot. 2026 Mar 19;16(2):52. doi: 10.3390/jox16020052.
ABSTRACT
Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are pervasive environmental contaminants with growing relevance for human health across the lifespan. Older adults may be especially vulnerable to their effects due to cumulative lifetime exposure, age-related physiological changes, and a higher burden of chronic disease. Adopting a One Health perspective, this review synthesizes current evidence on the sources, exposure pathways, and biological effects of MNPs, integrating findings from environmental, animal, and human studies with a specific focus on aging populations. Experimental studies consistently show that MNP exposure triggers oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cellular senescence, mechanisms central to biological aging. These processes are linked to dysfunction of the cardiovascular, nervous, gastrointestinal, and immune systems, suggesting that MNPs may contribute to the development or progression of age-related diseases. Within the One Health framework, MNPs also act as carriers of chemical additives and environmental pollutants, potentially amplifying health risks through combined and cumulative exposures along food chains and ecosystems. Despite increasing mechanistic evidence, direct epidemiological data in older adults remain limited. This review highlights key knowledge gaps and emphasizes the need for integrative, longitudinal research to clarify the role of MNPs in aging and to inform public health and environmental policy.
PMID:41874123 | DOI:10.3390/jox16020052