Micro/Nanoplastics and Cancer: Focus on Gastrointestinal Malignancies (IMAGE)
Caption
MNPs in modern ecosystems have become a pressing biomedical concern, particularly for GI health and cancer risk. From plastic-laden seafood to polymer accumulation in tissues, environmental pollutants are infiltrating the human body with oncogenic consequences. The synergy between MNPs and established carcinogens is concerning, as alcohol, poor diet, and genetic predisposition compound malignancy risk through inflammation and impaired detoxification. These particles contribute to endocrine disruptors and heavy metals, exacerbating preexisting vulnerabilities. The epidemiological landscape remains nascent, requiring large-scale biomonitoring studies to delineate dose-response relationships and MNPs accumulation dynamics. Future research must integrate molecular toxicology, microbiomics, immunology, and oncology to understand MNPs’ health impact. Public health interventions should focus on exposure reduction through regulations, education, and sustainable packaging. Clinicians must stay vigilant when managing GI pathologies in high-exposure populations. Viewing MNPs as modifiable risk factors could potentially reduce the risk of GI cancer. The intersection of plastic pollution and GI malignancies shows that environmental health directly impacts human biology. To address this more clearly, data on MNPs’ effects requires both scientific research and evidence-based societal action.
Credit
David A. Johnson
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License
CC BY-NC