A Review of Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Strategies for the Analyses of Metabolomics Induced by Microplastics

Microplastics (MPs) (microscopic plastic particles) are defined as plastic fragments in the range of 1 to 5 mm. They are invisible and usually too small to be seen by humans but pollution by MPs has become an issue due to the rising use of plastic products. Pollution of microscopic plastics has gained international attention in recent years and has become an important issue in the field of environmental protection, food safety, and human health. Numerous studies have reported that MPs have the potential for causing detrimental effects in various species. The focus of this mini review was on LC-MS-based metabolomics research into this issue by targeted and untargeted approaches. We also summarized biomarkers for assessing toxicity in land and aquatic species that are induced by MPs with different sizes and shapes, type of monomer, and the dose. Based on previous research results, MPs have the potential for affecting energy metabolism and the immune system, chronic inflammation, and neurotransmitter disorders in a wide variety of species. These biomarkers discovered by metabolomics are consistent with other methods, showing the reliability of LC-MS-based metabolomics. Further research is highly anticipated to explore other toxicity effects that are induced by MPs.