Gaps between Laboratory Experiments and Real-World Exposure: Toxicological Assessment of Microplastics Is Based on Inadequate Evidence

The global significance of microplastic (MP) toxicity assessment is widely acknowledged. Current studies have enhanced our understanding of the mechanisms behind MP toxicity; however, most research mainly focused on the toxicity of individual MPs, overlooking the environmental complexity that arises from the diversity of MPs and the combined effects of multiple pollutants. Furthermore, a notable gap exists in research concerning low-dose and long-term exposure, which significantly limits the relevance of current toxicity data for risk assessments. To address these challenges, we suggest a more thorough and logical approach to evaluating MP toxicity, including: enhancing the harmonization of methods for detecting and quantifying MPs in various environmental and biological matrixes; leveraging AI to simulate real environmental exposures and to predict the complex interactions between MPs and other environmental factors; and combining insights from environmental science, toxicology, materials science, and other relevant fields to bridge the gap between laboratory findings and real-world conditions. Collectively, these efforts could transform fragmented data into risk intelligence, delivering actionable governance solutions for global MP challenges.微塑料（microplastic, MP）毒性评估的全球重要性已得到广泛认可。现有研究已加深了我们对微塑料毒性作用机制的认知，但绝大多数研究仅聚焦于单一微塑料的毒性效应，忽略了微塑料多样性与多种污染物联合效应所共同催生的环境复杂性。此外，针对低剂量与长期暴露场景的研究存在显著空白，这极大限制了现有毒性数据在风险评估中的应用相关性。为应对这些挑战，我们提出一套更为全面且逻辑严谨的微塑料毒性评估方案，具体包括：统一规范各类环境与生物基质中微塑料的检测与定量方法；利用人工智能（AI）模拟真实环境暴露场景，并预测微塑料与其他环境因素间的复杂相互作用；整合环境科学、毒理学、材料科学等相关领域的研究视角，以弥合实验室研究结果与真实环境条件之间的鸿沟。综上，这些举措可将零散的研究数据转化为风险情报，为全球微塑料治理难题提供可落地的治理方案。