饮用水微塑料暴露对重点人群消化系统的影响研究进展

Research progress on the effects of microplastic exposure in drinking water on the digestive system of key populations

中文关键词:  饮用水  微塑料  重点人群  消化系统  

英文关键词:drinking water  microplastics  key populations  digestive system

中文摘要:

      近年来, 微塑料在多类饮用水水源及终端水样中被持续检出, 其环境分布逐渐引起关注。由于粒径较小、来源复杂且在环境中具有一定稳定性, 饮用水已被认为是人群接触微塑料的重要途径之一。与其他暴露方式相比, 经饮用水摄入通常呈现出持续性强、剂量较低且不易被察觉的特点。微塑料进入机体后首先接触消化系统, 其在胃肠道内的转运、滞留及排出过程, 可能与机体后续反应密切相关。在此基础上, 本文围绕饮用水中微塑料的来源、存在形态及人群暴露特征进行整理, 并重点关注其在消化系统中的作用过程, 包括对肠黏膜屏障功能、炎症反应、氧化应激及肠道微生态状态的影响。同时, 结合现有实验研究及有限的人群资料, 对儿童、孕妇、老年人及慢性肠道疾病患者等人群的潜在健康影响进行归纳分析。现有证据多来源于体外及动物研究, 人群层面的直接证据仍相对有限, 但相关结果在机制方面具有一定一致性。上述分析可为饮用水中微塑料健康风险的进一步评估提供参考。

英文摘要:

      In recent years, microplastics have been consistently detected in various types of drinking water sources and end-use water samples, and their environmental distribution has gradually drawn attention. Due to their small particle size, complex sources and relative stability in the environment, drinking water is now considered one of the primary routes of human exposure to microplastics. Compared to other exposure pathways, ingestion via drinking water typically involves chronic exposure, low doses and is often imperceptible. Once microplastics enter the body, they first come into contact with the digestive system. Their transport, retention and excretion within the gastrointestinal tract may be closely related to subsequent physiological responses. Based on this, this article reviewed the sources, forms and exposure characteristics of microplastics in drinking water, with a particular focued on their mechanisms of action within the digestive system, including their effects on intestinal mucosal barrier function, inflammatory responses, oxidative stress and the gut microbiome. Concurrently, by integrating existing experimental studies and limited population data, this paper provided a comprehensive analysis of the potential health impacts on vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant women, the elderly and patients with chronic intestinal diseases. While most current evidence stems from in vitro and animal studies, with direct evidence at the population level remaining relatively limited, the findings demonstrated a degree of consistency regarding underlying mechanisms. The aforementioned analysis may serve as a reference for further assessment of the health risks associated with microplastics in drinking water.