Polystyrene microplastics induces the injury of human corneal epithelial cells through ROS-mediated p53 pathway

Summary

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics caused significant damage to human corneal eye cells, including cell cycle arrest, necrosis, and programmed cell death. The damage was driven by an overproduction of reactive oxygen species that activated a key stress-response pathway in the cells. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may pose risks to eye health, particularly for the cells that form the outermost layer of the cornea.