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Genotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by polystyrene microplastics in human colon cells: a systematic review
Original title: Genotoxicidade e estresse oxidativo induzidos por microplásticos de poliestireno em células de cólon humano: uma revisão sistemática
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This review pulled together 10 lab studies testing how tiny polystyrene plastic particles (a common type of microplastic) affect human colon cells. The takeaway: these particles consistently triggered cell stress and disrupted the cells' natural defense systems, but they didn't reliably damage DNA — that only showed up with certain chemically altered particle types, not the plain ones you'd typically encounter. In short, microplastics may stress out your gut cells, but the evidence for them causing genetic damage is still shaky and depends heavily on the exact type of plastic particle involved.
Introduction: Human exposure to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) through diet is a growing concern because their effects on the intestinal epithelium, including oxidative stress and genotoxicity, remain controversial. Objective: To evaluate and synthesize in vitro evidence on these outcomes in human colon cell lines. Method: A PRISMA-based systematic review was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, yielding 10 included studies. Results: PS-MPs were associated with cellular stress responses, including increased reactive oxygen species and modulation of antioxidant markers and mitochondrial parameters. Genotoxicity signals clustered in studies using functionalized (carboxylated) particles, whereas pristine particles often showed no significant DNA damage. Conclusions: The synthesis indicates redox disruption in intestinal cells exposed to PS-MPs, whereas genotoxicity was not a consistent effect under the evaluated conditions, remaining dependent on particle features and analytical design.
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