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Correction to “Polystyrene Microplastics Disrupt Vertical Transmission of the Breast Milk Microbiome, Impairing Early‐Life Gut Colonization and Immune Development in Offspring”
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This notice is simply a correction to fix a misspelled author's name ("Sheng Liu") in a previously published study, it doesn't change any of the actual research findings. The original study itself looked at how microplastics in breast milk might interfere with the beneficial bacteria passed from mom to baby, potentially affecting a newborn's gut health and immune system development. If you're interested in the science on microplastics and infant health, it's worth checking out the original 2026 paper rather than this correction notice.
C. Shi, L. Li, X. L. Sun, S. Liu, and Y. Zhou, “Polystyrene Microplastics Disrupt Vertical Transmission of the Breast Milk Microbiome, Impairing Early-Life Gut Colonization and Immune Development in Offspring,” The FASEB Journal 40, no. 1 (2026): e71448, https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.202503819R. In the original article, the author name “Shen Liu” was misspelled in the author byline and the “Author Contributions.” The author's name should read “Sheng Liu.” The correct author list is: Chenxi Shi, Lianen Li, Xian Liang Sun, Sheng Liu, Yitong Zhou. We apologize for this error.
More Papers Like This
Polystyrene Microplastics Disrupt Vertical Transmission of the Breast Milk Microbiome, Impairing Early‐Life Gut Colonization and Immune Development in Offspring
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Researchers exposed pregnant and lactating mice to polystyrene microplastics and found that maternal exposure disrupted the breast milk microbiome, reducing beneficial bacteria like Ligilactobacillus while increasing potentially harmful ones. Offspring from exposed mothers showed altered gut colonization, excessive weight gain, reduced immune markers, and compromised intestinal barrier integrity, suggesting microplastics may affect infant development through changes in breast milk composition.
Correction to: Soil Invertebrates Generate Microplastics From Polystyrene Foam Debris
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This is simply a correction notice, not a new study, the researchers who found that soil-dwelling insects can break down polystyrene foam (like packing peanuts or takeout containers) into smaller microplastic pieces made an error identifying which cricket species they used in their experiment. They're now setting the record straight: the bug was a different type of cricket (Gryllodes sigillatus) than originally reported (Acheta domesticus), though the main finding about insects generating microplastics still stands. This matters because understanding how common insects break down plastic waste into tinier particles helps scientists track how microplastics spread through soil, potentially into our food
Gut microbiome alterations associated with microplastics: Underestimated risk from tiny particle
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This review pulls together existing research showing that tiny plastic particles, found in our food, water, and even air, can disrupt the balance of bacteria living in our gut, and this disruption has been linked to problems ranging from digestive diseases to effects on the brain, liver, and reproductive system in animal studies. The catch: scientists still struggle to accurately detect and measure these particles in the body, meaning our real-world exposure and its health effects are likely underestimated. Bottom line, microplastics may be quietly messing with your gut health in ways we're only beginning to understand and measure.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.