Microplastics health impacts require cautious scientific study

Medical oncology expert Prof. Dr. Meral Günaldı has emphasized the need for cautious scientific investigation into the potential health impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics. As plastic production increases, these particles have become widespread in air, water, and soil, and have been detected in various human tissues.

While microplastic particles have been identified in tumor samples related to lung, colorectal, stomach, cervical, breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancers, Prof. Dr. Günaldı notes that there is currently no direct epidemiological evidence proving that microplastic exposure increases the frequency of cancer in humans. She cautioned that finding a particle within tumor tissue does not alone prove it caused the cancer.

Experimental studies are currently investigating how microplastics may affect chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, the hormonal system, and signaling pathways that regulate cell proliferation. Further long-term research is required to determine if the mechanisms observed in laboratory settings translate to direct causes of cancer in humans.