Environmentally relevant toxic substances may affect human health, provoking numerous harmful effects on central nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine and reproductive system, and even cause various types of
carcinoma. These substances, to which general population is constantly and simultaneously exposed, enter human body via food and water, but also by inhalation and dermal contact, while accumulating evidence suggests that probiotic cultures are able to efficiently adsorb and/or degrade them. Cell wall of probiotic bacteria/fungi, which contains structures such as exopolysaccharide, teichoic
acid,
protein and
peptidoglycan components, is considered the main place of toxic substances adsorption. Moreover, probiotics are able to induce metabolism and degradation of various toxic substances, making them less toxic and more suitable for elimination. Other probable in vivo protective effects have also been suggested, including decreased intestinal absorption and increased excretion of toxic substances, prevented gut microbial
dysbiosis, increase in the intestinal mucus secretion, decreased production of
reactive oxygen species, reduction of
inflammation, etc. Having all of this in mind, this review aims to summarize the state-of-the-art knowledge regarding the potential protective effects of different probiotic strains against environmentally relevant toxic substances (
mycotoxins,
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, phthalates,
bisphenol A and toxic metals).