Microplastics as environmental modifiers of lung disease.

ABSTRACT: Human-driven environmental change continues to reshape global patterns of disease, as seen in past pollution-related respiratory crises. Microplastics, persistent synthetic polymer particles, have now emerged as a widespread airborne contaminant with growing relevance for lung health. Continuous inhalation exposure, particularly in indoor environments rich in synthetic fibers, raises concern about their contribution to respiratory disease. Epidemiological and experimental studies increasingly link microplastic exposure to lung cancer, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pulmonary fibrosis, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined. This review integrates current evidence on how particle properties influence biological outcomes and outlines how different polymer typ

SUBMITTER: Epeslidou E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12905266 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature