Inhalation and Dermal Exposure to Microplastics from Prolonged Use of Personal Protective Equipment in Healthcare Settings: Implications for Medical Staff Health

Km Suman; Satarupa Mistry

Inhalation and Dermal Exposure to Microplastics from Prolonged Use of Personal Protective Equipment in Healthcare Settings: Implications for Medical Staff Health

Author(s)	Ms. Km Suman, Dr. Satarupa Mistry
Country	India
Abstract	Abstract Background: The widespread use of polymer-based personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, has raised concerns about occupational exposure to microplastics among healthcare workers. Mechanical wear, prolonged use, and repeated handling of disposable PPE may release microplastic fibres and particles, creating potential inhalation and dermal exposure risks. Methods: This narrative review critically evaluated published experimental, observational, and environmental studies investigating PPE-derived microplastics. The available evidence on polymer composition, mechanisms of particle release, exposure pathways, toxicological effects, and strategies for exposure reduction was systematically synthesized. Results: Current evidence indicates that disposable PPE, especially polypropylene-based masks, respirators, gowns, and gloves, can release microplastics under conditions such as breathing, friction, humidity, and repeated use. Inhalation represents the principal exposure route, while prolonged skin contact may contribute to dermal exposure. Experimental studies suggest that these particles may induce oxidative stress, inflammation, epithelial barrier dysfunction, and other adverse biological responses. However, human epidemiological evidence remains scarce, and standardized methods for measuring occupational exposure are still lacking. Conclusion: PPE-derived microplastics represent a potentially important but under-recognized occupational hazard in healthcare settings. Although PPE remains essential for infection prevention, further longitudinal human studies, standardized exposure assessment methods, and the development of low-shedding, sustainable PPE materials are needed to better understand health risks and strengthen occupational safety while maintaining effective infection control.
Keywords	Keywords: Microplastics; Personal protective equipment; Healthcare workers; Occupational exposure; Inhalation; Dermal exposure; Polypropylene; Occupational safety
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 5, September-October 2026
Published On	2026-09-16

View / Download PDF File

About IJFMR Fees & Payment Current Issue Publication Archive	Submit Research Paper Track Submission Status Publication Guidelines Publication Ethics Peer Review & Plagiarism	Join as a Reviewer Editors & Reviewers Reviewer Referral Program Get Reviewer Membership Certi.	Website/Journal Policies Usage Policy Content Policies Privacy Policy

Contact Us		+91-9687-828-838	editor@ijfmr.com

International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

A Widely Indexed Open Access Peer Reviewed Multidisciplinary Bi-monthly Scholarly International Journal

Inhalation and Dermal Exposure to Microplastics from Prolonged Use of Personal Protective Equipment in Healthcare Settings: Implications for Medical Staff Health

Share this