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Perinatal exposure to polystyrene microplastics: biometric, hormonal and behavioral parameters of male and female Wistar rats at weaning, puberty and adulthood.
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Scientists exposed pregnant rats to tiny plastic particles (like those found in human placenta and breast milk) and found lasting effects on their offspring's hormones, cholesterol, and behavior, male offspring became more anxious and ate less fatty food, while females ate more as adults. Since microplastics are already showing up in our bodies, this animal study raises concern that early-life plastic exposure could disrupt hormone balance and eating behaviors differently in males and females, though more research is needed to confirm this happens in humans too.
Microplastics (MPs) are widespread in environment, being detected in human tissues, as placenta and breast milk. Given their potential endocrine and neurobehavioral effects, we studied whether perinatal exposure to MPs causes dysfunctions in dams and offspring. From gestational day 7 (G7) until weaning, Wistar rat dams received water (control group; n=9) or 10 μm polystyrene microparticles (25 μg/kg body mass, MP group; n=8). Biometric and biochemical parameters of dams and offspring were evaluated at weaning (21 days-old), puberty (45 days-old) and adulthood (120 days-old). Behavioral tests were performed at puberty and adulthood. MP dams showed lower body mass from the G10 until delivery but returned to control levels during lactation; also exhibited lower plasma cholesterol and T4 levels at weaning. MP offspring showed age- and sex-dependent alterations in lipid and endocrine homeostasis, including changes in cholesterol, triglycerides, corticosterone, thyroid hormones, leptin and FSH levels. Adult offspring also showed sex-specific behavioral alterations. MP males showed increased anxiety-like behavior during puberty and adulthood, reduced caloric intake and preference for the high-fat diet whereas adult females exhibited increased caloric intake. Thus, perinatal exposure to a single dose of 10-μm polystyrene microplastics was associated with behavior, lipid and endocrine disturbances in both dams and offspring.
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Effects of Polystyrene Microplastic Exposure on Growth and Physiological Parameters in Juvenile Wistar Rats
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Scientists fed young rats tiny plastic particles (the kind found in everyday products) daily for six weeks and found the rats grew more slowly and had disrupted hormone levels, including lower testosterone in males and lower estrogen in females, plus changes in organs like the brain, lungs, and spleen. While this study was in rats, not humans, it adds to growing evidence that microplastics may interfere with normal development and hormone balance, which is especially concerning during childhood and adolescence when these systems are still maturing.
Reproductive and metabolic toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics in adult female Wistar rats: a mechanistic study
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Researchers gave female rats polystyrene microplastics orally for 45 days and found disruptions to both metabolic and reproductive hormone levels, including increased cholesterol, insulin resistance, and altered sex hormones. The microplastics also caused liver fibrosis and elevated inflammatory markers. The study suggests that chronic microplastic exposure may contribute to metabolic and endocrine disruption in mammals.
The emerging risk of exposure to nano(micro)plastics on endocrine disturbance and reproductive toxicity: From a hypothetical scenario to a global public health challenge
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Researchers administered polystyrene nanoplastics orally to male rats for five weeks and found significant reductions in testosterone, LH, and FSH levels, sperm DNA damage, altered testicular gene expression, and dose-dependent histological lesions, indicating that nanoplastic exposure disrupts the hormonal axis governing male reproductive function.
Effects of polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics on the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis of Japanese quail.
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (microplastics and nanoplastics) can build up in the brains and testes of quail, damaging tissue and lowering key reproductive hormones and sperm quality. Because these plastic levels matched what's found in the environment, this raises concern about similar effects on human fertility and hormone health, since we're exposed to the same pollutants.
Polystyrene nanoplastics disrupt mouse placenta development in a sex-dependent manner.
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Scientists fed pregnant mice tiny plastic particles (similar to what humans are exposed to daily) and found they damaged the structure of the placenta, the organ that nourishes a developing baby, with male fetuses showing more harm than females. While this study was in mice, not humans, it raises real concerns about how the microplastics we're all exposed to through food, water, and air might affect pregnancy and fetal development, and suggests more research is urgently needed.
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