NANOPLASTICS
THREAT TO LIFE

A growing body of research is exploring how nanoplastics interact with cells and body tissues. Researchers are analyzing their possible involvement in cellular disruption, including altered mitochondrial function, inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and damage to genetic material. These mechanisms are being examined as potential contributing factors to various chronic conditions. The film authors highlight the urgent need for further study into the possible impacts of this exposure on public health and healthcare systems.

Micro- and nanoplastics are constantly infiltrating everything: soil, water, air, and living organisms, already becoming part of the food chain. On average, a person may consume about 250 grams of plastic per year with food alone, and may inhale up to 106,000 plastic particles during just a two-hour walk.

Nanoplastics can bypass biological barriers (including the intestinal barrier, the blood-brain barrier, the placental barrier, etc.) and can accumulate in the brain, heart, blood vessels, liver, testicles, and ovaries. Once inside cells, they may disrupt ion channels, can cause oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and chronic inflammation, all of which may potentially have a systemic impact on reproductive health as well as the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Nanoplastics accumulate and continuously retain an electrostatic charge on their surface, which may distort electrical signals between cells, alter their membrane potential, and disrupt the functioning of ion channels and electron transport in mitochondria.
Such interference may potentially lead to cardiac arrhythmia, metabolic disorders, and cognitive decline.

Electrostatically charged nanoplastics can disrupt the transmission of nerve impulses, which may lead to disturbances in heart rhythm, muscle contractions, immune responses, and metabolism. This may result in arrhythmias, respiratory failure, cognitive impairment, and accelerated neurodegeneration.

A growing body of studies is focusing on the potential impact of micro- and nanoplastics on reproductive health. Researchers are analyzing evidence of their presence in reproductive organs, their potential effects on germ cells, and their ability to cross the placental barrier. These mechanisms are examined as potential risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes and fetal developmental disorders.

An increasing number of studies investigate how nanoplastics might affect the central nervous system. Researchers are evaluating their potential impact on neuronal operation, neurotransmitter systems, and mitochondria, as well as their role in driving inflammatory processes in the brain. These mechanisms are considered to be potential contributing factors to an increased risk of developing a range of neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy.

Nanoplastics can impair animal navigation (birds), electroreception (fish), and pollinator communication (bees), while possibly damaging plant roots and nutrient uptake. This could lead to ecosystem degradation and population decline.

A growing body of research focuses on the potential role of micro- and nanoplastics in the Earth’s climate system. Researchers are analyzing their possible impact on cloud formation, precipitation, and ocean-atmosphere interactions. A number of researchers suggest that these processes could further contribute to changing climate conditions and the severity of certain extreme weather events.

The scale of micro- and nanoplastics spread, along with its wide range of potential impacts — from embryonic development to the state of ecosystems — make international scientific cooperation particularly crucial. Addressing this complex interdisciplinary challenge will clearly require coordinated efforts from researchers, the medical community, environmental organizations, and government institutions worldwide.