{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,25]],"date-time":"2026-08-25T02:56:09Z","timestamp":1787626569257,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"Walter de Gruyter GmbH","issue":"2","funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100012021","name":"Iran University of Medical Sciences","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100012021","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,24]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>The pervasive environmental contamination of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) has raised significant public health concerns, with the respiratory tract being a critical route of exposure. While a growing body of evidence suggests adverse pulmonary effects, a comprehensive synthesis of systematic reviews (SRs) is lacking. This umbrella review systematically consolidates evidence from published SRs to evaluate the impact of MP and NP exposure on human pulmonary health. Accordingly, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases. Fifteen SRs meeting the inclusion criteria were critically appraised using the AMSTAR-2 tool and included for narrative synthesis. The evidence unequivocally links MP\/NP exposure to a spectrum of respiratory pathologies. Key determinants of toxicity can include particle size, shape, and polymer chemistry. NPs penetrate deeply into alveoli, causing oxidative stress, inflammation, and translocation, while MPs act as persistent irritants in the airways. Exposure is associated with acute conditions (airway inflammation, alveolar damage) and chronic diseases, including chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation, and pulmonary fibrosis. These effects lead to functional impairments such as reduced gas exchange and a progressive decline in lung function. Urban residents, occupational workers, and children are identified as high-risk populations due to heightened exposure and susceptibility. This synthesis study establishes MPs and NPs as a significant and multifaceted hazard to respiratory health. Addressing the global plastic pollution crisis at its source is paramount for protecting respiratory health.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1515\/reveh-2025-0159","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,17]],"date-time":"2026-04-17T17:39:52Z","timestamp":1776447592000},"page":"238-252","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["The impact of micro- and nanoplastics on human pulmonary health; an umbrella review"],"prefix":"10.1515","volume":"41","author":[{"given":"Hooshyar","family":"Hossini","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"48464 Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences , Kermanshah , Iran"},{"name":"Department of Environmental Health Engineering , School of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences , Kermanshah , Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Roya Vesal","family":"Azad","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sina","family":"Saryazdi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Melika","family":"Taherifar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mahdi","family":"Farzadkia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Center for Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran"},{"name":"Department of Environmental Health Engineering , School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"374","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026061608041283413_j_reveh-2025-0159_ref_001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Prata, JC. Airborne microplastics: consequences to human health? Environ Pollut 2018;234:115\u201326. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.envpol.2017.11.043.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envpol.2017.11.043"},{"key":"2026061608041283413_j_reveh-2025-0159_ref_002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Vethaak, AD, Legler, J. Microplastics and human health. Science 2021;371:672\u20134. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.abe5041.","DOI":"10.1126\/science.abe5041"},{"key":"2026061608041283413_j_reveh-2025-0159_ref_003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wright, SL, Kelly, FJ. Plastic and human health: a micro issue? Environ Sci Technol 2017;51:6634\u201347. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acs.est.7b00423.","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.est.7b00423"},{"key":"2026061608041283413_j_reveh-2025-0159_ref_004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Amato-Louren\u00e7o, LF, Carvalho-Oliveira, R, J\u00fanior, GR, dos Santos Galv\u00e3o, L, Ando, RA, Mauad, T. Presence of airborne microplastics in human lung tissue. J\u00a0Hazard Mater 2021;416:126124. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jhazmat.2021.126124.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhazmat.2021.126124"},{"key":"2026061608041283413_j_reveh-2025-0159_ref_005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dris, R, Gasperi, J, Mirande, C, Mandin, C, Guerrouache, M, Langlois, V, et al.. A first overview of textile fibers, including microplastics, in indoor and outdoor environments. Environ Pollut 2017;221:453\u20138. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.envpol.2016.12.013.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envpol.2016.12.013"},{"key":"2026061608041283413_j_reveh-2025-0159_ref_006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hwang, J, Choi, D, Han, S, Jung, SY, Choi, J, Hong, J. Potential toxicity of polystyrene microplastic particles. Sci Rep 2020;10:7391. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41598-020-64464-9.","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-020-64464-9"},{"key":"2026061608041283413_j_reveh-2025-0159_ref_007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jenner, LC, Rotchell, JM, Bennett, RT, Cowen, M, Tentzeris, V, Sadofsky, LR. Detection of microplastics in human lung tissue using\u00a0\u03bcFTIR spectroscopy. Sci Total Environ 2022;831:154907. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2022.154907.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2022.154907"},{"key":"2026061608041283413_j_reveh-2025-0159_ref_008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Brahney, J, Hallerud, M, Heim, E, Hahnenberger, M, Sukumaran, S. Plastic rain in protected areas of the United\u00a0States. Science 2020;368:1257\u201360. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.aaz5819.","DOI":"10.1126\/science.aaz5819"},{"key":"2026061608041283413_j_reveh-2025-0159_ref_009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lehner, R, Weder, C, Petri-Fink, A, Rothen-Rutishauser, B. Emergence of nanoplastic in the environment and possible impact on human health. Environ Sci Technol 2019;53:1748\u201365. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acs.est.8b05512.","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.est.8b05512"},{"key":"2026061608041283413_j_reveh-2025-0159_ref_010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Shea, BJ, Reeves, BC, Wells, G, Thuku, M, Hamel, C, Moran, J, et al.. AMSTAR 2: a critical appraisal tool for SRs that include randomised or non-randomised studies of healthcare interventions, or both. BMJ 2017;358.","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.j4008"},{"key":"2026061608041283413_j_reveh-2025-0159_ref_011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Prata, JC. The environmental impact of e-waste microplastics: a SR and analysis based on the driver\u2013pressure\u2013state\u2013impact\u2013response (DPSIR) framework. 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Integrating aggregate exposure pathway and adverse outcome pathway for micro\/nanoplastics: a review on exposure, toxicokinetics, and toxicity studies. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2024;272:116022. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ecoenv.2024.116022.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ecoenv.2024.116022"},{"key":"2026061608041283413_j_reveh-2025-0159_ref_015","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rose, PK, Jain, M, Kataria, N, Sahoo, PK, Garg, VK, Yadav, A. Microplastics in multimedia environment: a SR on its fate, transport, quantification, health risk, and remedial measures. Groundw Sustain Dev 2023;20:100889. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.gsd.2022.100889.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gsd.2022.100889"},{"key":"2026061608041283413_j_reveh-2025-0159_ref_016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zuri, G, Karanasiou, A, Lacorte, S. Microplastics: human exposure assessment through air, water, and food. Environ Int 2023b;179:108150. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.envint.2023.108150.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envint.2023.108150"},{"key":"2026061608041283413_j_reveh-2025-0159_ref_017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lee, J, Jeong, S. Approach to an answer to \u201chow dangerous microplastics are to the human body\u201d: a SR of the quantification of MPs and simultaneously exposed chemicals. J\u00a0Hazard Mater 2023;460:132404. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jhazmat.2023.132404.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhazmat.2023.132404"},{"key":"2026061608041283413_j_reveh-2025-0159_ref_018","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pulvirenti, E, Ferrante, M, Barbera, N, Favara, C, Aquilia, E, Palella, M, et al.. Effects of nano and microplastics on the inflammatory process: in\u00a0vitro and in\u00a0vivo studies SR. 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