ANALISIS ONTOLOGIS MIKROPLASTIK DALAM TUBUH MANUSIA SEBAGAI ANCAMAN TERHADAP HAKIKAT EKSISTENSI DAN KESEHATAN BIOLOGIS MODERN
Abstract
This article aims to provide an ontological analysis of microplastics in the human body and their implications for the nature of human existence and modern biological health. A literature review was conducted using recent national and international scientific articles that discuss the sources and characteristics of microplastics, exposure pathways, detection of microplastics in human biological samples, toxicological impacts, and related ethical and philosophical analyses. The review shows that microplastics are detected in several body compartments such as blood, placenta, stool, and breast milk, indicating chronic and hardly avoidable exposure. Biologically, microplastics may induce oxidative stress, inflammation, gut microbiota imbalance, and cellular dysfunction that can contribute to chronic diseases. Ontologically, these findings blur the boundary between the biological body and technological artefacts, as the modern human body becomes a material “archive” of plastic civilization. Ethically, microplastic pollution raises issues of environmental and intergenerational justice, especially for vulnerable groups such as fetuses, infants, and low income communities. The article highlights the need for a multidisciplinary response through stronger research, regulations to reduce single use plastics, development of a circular economy, and changes in consumption patterns in order to better protect human existence and biological health.
Keywords
microplastics, human body, biological health, modern existence, environmental ethics
References
- Abbas, G., Ahmed, T., Khan, M. T., Nafees, M., Khan, I., & Ihsanullah, I. (2025). Impact of microplastics on human health: Risks, diseases, and preventive measures. Microplastics, 4(2), 23. https://doi.org/10.3390/microplastics4020023 (MDPI)
- Campanale, C., Massarelli, C., Savino, I., Locaputo, V., & Uricchio, V. F. (2020). A detailed review study on potential effects of microplastics and additives of concern on human health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(4), 1212. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17041212
- Czerny, C. M. (2023). The plastic crisis, human dignity, and care for our common home. Annals of Global Health, 89(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.5334/aogh.4100
- Czerny, C. M. (2023). The plastic crisis, human dignity, and care for our common home. Annals of Global Health, 89(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.5334/aogh.4100
- Grzelak, A. (2024). From environment to body: Microplastics’ sources, pathways, and health repercussions. Journal of Education, Health and Sport, 75, 56606. https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2024.75.56606
- Lee, Y., Cho, J., Sohn, J., & Kim, C. (2023). Health effects of microplastic exposures: Current issues and perspectives in South Korea. Yonsei Medical Journal, 64(5), 301–308. https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2023.0048
- Leslie, H. A., van Velzen, M. J. M., Brandsma, S. H., Vethaak, A. D., Garcia Vallejo, J. J., & Lamoree, M. H. (2022). Discovery and quantification of plastic particle pollution in human blood. Environment International, 163, 107199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107199
- Leslie, H. A., van Velzen, M. J. M., Brandsma, S. H., Vethaak, A. D., Garcia-Vallejo, J. J., & Lamoree, M. H. (2022). Discovery and quantification of plastic particle pollution in human blood. Environment International, 163, 107199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107199
- Li, Y., Tao, L., Wang, Q., Wang, F., Li, G., & Song, M. (2023). Potential health impact of microplastics: A review of environmental distribution, human exposure, and toxic effects. Environment & Health, 1(4), 249–257. https://doi.org/10.1021/envhealth.3c00052
- Nawab, A., Ahmad, M., Khan, M. T., Nafees, M., Khan, I., & Ihsanullah, I. (2024). Human exposure to microplastics: A review on exposure routes and public health impacts. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, 10, 100487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazadv.2024.100487
- Osman, A. I., Hosny, M., Eltaweil, A. S., Omar, S., Elgarahy, A. M., Farghali, M., Yap, P. S., Wu, Y. S., Nagandran, S., Batumalaie, K., Gopinath, S. C. B., John, O. D., Sekar, M., Saikia, T., Karunanithi, P., Hatta, M. H. M., & Akinyede, K. A. (2023). Microplastic sources, formation, toxicity and remediation: A review. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 21, 2129–2169. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-023-01593-3
- Osman, A. I., Hosny, M., Eltaweil, A. S., Omar, S., Elgarahy, A. M., Farghali, M., Yap, P.-S., Wu, Y.-S., Nagandran, S., Batumalaie, K., Gopinath, S. C. B., & others. (2023). Microplastic sources, formation, toxicity and remediation: A review. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 21, 2129–2169. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-023-01593-3
- Ragusa, A., Belloni, A., Blondeel, C., D’Avino, S., Gioacchini, G., Gulotta, A., Notarstefano, V., Svelato, A., Zucchelli, E., De Luca, C., & others. (2022). Raman microspectroscopy detection and characterisation of microplastics in human breastmilk. Polymers, 14(13), 2700. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14132700
- Ragusa, A., Notarstefano, V., Svelato, A., Belloni, A., Gioacchini, G., Blondeel, C., Zucchelli, E., De Luca, C., D’Avino, S., Gulotta, A., Carnevali, O., & Giorgini, E. (2022). Raman microspectroscopy detection and characterisation of microplastics in human breastmilk. Polymers, 14(13), 2700. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14132700
- Ragusa, A., Svelato, A., Santacroce, C., Catalano, P., Notarstefano, V., Carnevali, O., Papa, F., Rongioletti, M. C. A., Baiocco, F., Draghi, S., D’Amore, E., Rinaldo, D., Matta, M., & Giorgini, E. (2021). Plasticenta: First evidence of microplastics in human placenta. Environment International, 146, 106274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106274
- Ragusa, A., Svelato, A., Santacroce, C., Catalano, P., Notarstefano, V., Carnevali, O., Papa, F., Rongioletti, M., Baiocco, F., Draghi, S., D’Amore, E., Rinaldo, D., Matta, M., & Giorgini, E. (2021). Plasticenta: First evidence of microplastics in human placenta. Environment International, 146, 106274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106274
- Schwabl, P., Köppel, S., Königshofer, P., Bucsics, T., Trauner, M., Reiberger, T., & Liebmann, B. (2019). Detection of various microplastics in human stool: A prospective case series. Annals of Internal Medicine, 171(7), 453–457. https://doi.org/10.7326/M19 0618
- Schwabl, P., Köppel, S., Königshofer, P., Bucsics, T., Trauner, M., Reiberger, T., & Liebmann, B. (2019). Detection of various microplastics in human stool: A prospective case series. Annals of Internal Medicine, 171(7), 453–457. https://doi.org/10.7326/M19-0618
- Winiarska, E., Jutel, M., & Zemelka-Wiacek, M. (2024). The potential impact of nano- and microplastics on human health: Understanding human health risks. Environmental Research, 242, 118535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.118535
- World Health Organization. (2019). Microplastics in drinking-water. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241516198 (Semantic Scholar)
- Zhang, X., Liu, Y., Chen, Y., & Wang, J. (2025). Microplastics and human health: Unraveling the toxicological pathways and implications for public health. Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1567200. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1567200