The Impact of Microplastics in Food and Drugs on Human Health: A Review of the MENA Region.

Microplastics (MPs), defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, have emerged as a global environmental and public health crisis, infiltrating air, water, soil, and food systems worldwide. MPs originate from the breakdown of larger plastic debris, single-use plastics, and industrial processes, entering food. Emerging evidence underscores the ability of MPs to cross biological barriers, including the blood-brain barrier, triggering neuroinflammatory responses and contributing to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Polystyrene (PS), a common type of MP, activates microglial cells, releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukins, which increase neuronal damage. MPs have also been linked to cardiovascular diseases, with studies detecting polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in carotid artery plaques, increasing the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke. Furthermore, MPs disrupt endocrine function, alter lipid metabolism, and induce gut microbiome imbalances, posing multifaceted health risks. In the MENA region, MP pollution is particularly severe, with the Mediterranean Sea receiving an estimated 570,000 tons of plastic annually, equivalent to 33,800 plastic bottles per minute. Studies in Egypt, Lebanon, and Tunisia document high MP concentrations in marine ecosystems, with herbivorous fish like