背景:2019年,世界卫生组织发布了一份报告,得出结论认为饮用水中的微塑料不会对人类健康构成威胁。从那时起,出现了大量的研究,证明了塑料在各种器官系统中的存在及其有害的病理生理作用。
方法:根据JohannaBriggs研究所的建议进行了范围审查。五个数据库(PubMed,Scopus,CINAHL,除了进一步的灰色文献检索外,还系统地检索了WebofScience和EMBASE)。
结果:确定了18篇文章,其中六项研究并表征了人体泌尿道中微塑料和纳米塑料(MNPs)的存在。发现微塑料存在于肾脏中,尿液和膀胱癌样本。12篇文章研究了MNPs对与人泌尿道相关的人细胞系的影响。这些文章表明MNPs具有细胞毒性作用,增加炎症,降低细胞活力并改变丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)信号通路。
结论:鉴于报道的MNPs在人体组织和器官中的存在,这些塑料可能对膀胱疾病和功能障碍有潜在的健康影响。因此,世界卫生组织等机构需要紧急重新评估他们对微塑料对公众健康的威胁的立场。
■这项范围审查强调了人体泌尿道内微塑料污染的迅速威胁,挑战世界卫生组织的断言,微塑料对公众健康没有风险。记录的微塑料的细胞毒性作用,除了它们诱导炎症的能力,降低细胞活力并破坏信号通路,引起与膀胱癌有关的重大公共卫生问题,慢性肾病,慢性尿路感染和尿失禁。因此,这项研究强调迫切需要进一步的研究和政策制定,以解决围绕微塑料污染的挑战。
BACKGROUND: In 2019 the World Health Organisation published a report which concluded microplastics in drinking water did not present a threat to human health. Since this time a plethora of research has emerged demonstrating the presence of plastic in various organ systems and their deleterious pathophysiological effects.
METHODS: A scoping review was undertaken in line with recommendations from the Johanna Briggs Institute. Five databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, CINAHL, Web of Science and EMBASE) were systematically searched in addition to a further grey literature search.
RESULTS: Eighteen articles were identified, six of which investigated and characterised the presence of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in the human urinary tract. Microplastics were found to be present in kidney, urine and bladder cancer samples. Twelve articles investigated the effect of MNPs on human cell lines associated with the human urinary tract. These articles suggest MNPs have a cytotoxic effect, increase inflammation, decrease cell viability and alter mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signalling pathways.
CONCLUSIONS: Given the reported presence MNPs in human tissues and organs, these plastics may have potential health implications in bladder disease and dysfunction. As a result, institutions such as the World Health Organisation need to urgently re-evaluate their position on the threat of microplastics to public health.
UNASSIGNED: This scoping review highlights the rapidly emerging threat of microplastic contamination within the human urinary tract, challenging the World Health Organisation\'s assertion that microplastics pose no risk to public health. The documented cytotoxic effects of microplastics, alongside their ability to induce inflammation, reduce cell viability and disrupt signalling pathways, raise significant public health concerns relating to bladder cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic urinary tract infections and incontinence. As a result, this study emphasises the pressing need for further research and policy development to address the challenges surrounding microplastic contamination.