We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
56 Combined microplastic and indoor or urban dust exposure potentiates inflammatory responses in a human alveolar model in vitro
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed a three-cell alveolar model — including type I and type II pneumocytes alongside macrophages — at the air-liquid interface to polyamide, PET, or polystyrene particles followed by urban or indoor dust, finding that while single plastic exposures produced minimal cytokine release, combined exposures significantly elevated IL-8, indicating synergistic pulmonary inflammation.
Abstract The potential health effects posed by inhaled micro/nanoplastics (MNPs) is an area of increasing concern. There is therefore a requirement to assess environmentally relevant MNP samples using methods that accurately mirror real human exposures, whilst considering potential concomitant effects of the ambient air pollution mixture. Here, an in vitro alveolar model at the air-liquid interface, comprising anatomically appropriate densities of type I pneumocytes (hAELVi), type II pneumocytes (NCI-H441) and macrophages (differentiated THP-1), was exposed to MNPs using an aerosol exposure system (VITROCELL® Cloud12). Polyamide (PA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polystyrene (PS) were deposited onto cultures by nebulising 200 μL MNP suspension (1 mg/mL) three times, followed by sequential urban dust (SRM 1649b) or indoor dust (SRM 2583) (780 ng/cm2) (NIST) exposure. Twenty-four hours post-exposure, there were no significant changes to cell viability (Erythrosin B assay) or barrier integrity (blue dextran assay). As single pollutants, PET and PS, but not PA non-significantly increased IL-6 and IL-8 release (ELISA). Co-exposure of all MNPs with SRM 1649b or SRM 2583 increased IL-6 and IL-8 release compared to respective single pollutant exposures, however significance was only reached for IL-8 release when PS was co-exposed with either SRM 1649b or SRM 2583 (P < 0.05). It is shown here that MNPs may be able to act synergistically with other ambient air pollution samples to induce pulmonary inflammation whereas a single pollutant does not induce this effect, further emphasising the requirements to consider the toxicological profile of realistic air pollutant mixtures on human health.
More Papers Like This
99 The Relative Toxicity and Bioreactivity of Ambient Microplastic Pollution to Human Alveolar Lung Epithelial Cells with and Without Urban PM2.5
AI summary Read the abstract
This lab study exposed human lung cells to microplastic particles (polypropylene and polyamide) at sizes found in real-world air pollution, finding that both types caused cell death while urban air pollution particles (PM2.5) triggered inflammatory responses instead. The two types of harm worked through different mechanisms and didn't reliably combine when mixed, suggesting that microplastics in inhaled air pose a distinct and understudied risk to the respiratory system beyond conventional air pollution.
55 Investigating the co-Exposure of Micro(nano)Plastics and Indoor/Outdoor Particulate Matter Using an Alveolar BarrierIn Vitro Model
AI summary Read the abstract
This study set out to investigate what happens when human lung cells are exposed simultaneously to microplastics shed from face masks and real-world particulate matter from indoor and outdoor air. Using an advanced air-liquid interface model with two lung cell types, the researchers aimed to measure cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA damage — results that will help fill a major knowledge gap about the combined health risks of inhaling plastic particles alongside conventional air pollution.
110 In vitro exposure of human lung and macrophage cells to chemical and nanoplastic particle mixtures relevant to indoor environments
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed lung epithelial cells and macrophages to mixtures of a textile dye, a flame retardant, copper chloride, and polystyrene nanoplastics, finding synergistic and antagonistic interaction effects — including significantly elevated IL-8 for a PS plus dye plus copper mixture — that single-substance toxicity data failed to predict.
Microplastics amplify the pro-inflammatory response to fungal mycelial fragments and spores in neutrophil-like cells
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that HDPE microplastics combined with fungal fragments induced significant release of inflammatory markers IL-6 and IL-8 from neutrophil-like immune cells. Notably, they observed a trend of decreasing IL-6 levels at higher microplastic doses mixed with fungal particles, suggesting possible dysregulation of the inflammatory response. The study indicates that microplastics may amplify and alter immune reactions to common biological particles found in indoor and outdoor air.
125 In vitro toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics in alveolar macrophages and a 3D-alveolar model: influence of size, polymer, and weathering
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested nine types of micro- and nanoplastics — including pristine and UV-weathered polyamide-6 particles made by different synthesis routes, PET, and acrylic paint particles — in alveolar macrophage and 3D lung models, finding that synthesis method, weathering state, and polymer type together determine the degree of oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, and macrophage activation.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.