Highlights
• Distinct Deposition: MPs and NPs show varied patterns at different breathing rates.
• Breathing Rate Impact: Faster rates increase MP upper respiratory tract deposition.
• Deposition Hotspots: Identified specific areas within the tract for NMP accumulation.
• Size Matters: Particle size crucially influences NMP transport and deposition.
Recent studies have unveiled the presence of nano- and microplastics (NMPs) within both human and avian respiratory systems, prompting an exploration into the interactions between these particles and the human respiratory system. Experimental evidence has strongly suggested that these plastic particles amplify human susceptibility to a spectrum of lung disorders, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, fibrosis, dyspnea, asthma, and the formation of frosted glass nodules.
This study establishes a link between the behavior of nanoplastics within the respiratory tract and its consequential impact, providing insights that extend across three critical domains.
- Non-spherical MPs have a propensity for deeper lung penetration compared to spherical microplastics and nanoplastics, potentially leading to different health outcomes.