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Sex-dependent variations in the immune status of the terrestrial isopod Porcellio laevis (Crustacea, Isopoda) as a response to environmental perturbation: a case of microplastic exposure in soil
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Scientists exposed small soil creatures (isopods, a relative of pill bugs) to microplastics and found that males and females responded differently, females showed immune changes while males showed changes in growth and protein levels, even at low microplastic doses. While this study is about bugs, not people, it's a reminder that microplastics can quietly affect living things' internal biology in ways that differ by sex, a factor scientists are increasingly finding matters when studying how these tiny plastic particles might affect human health too.
Sex-dependent variation in immune responses in arthropods is well established in cases of microbial infection or parasitism but remains less explored under environmental stress. In this study we examined whether the sex of terrestrial isopods Porcellio laevis affects their immune response to soil microplastic (MP) exposure. Animals were exposed for 14 days to polypropylene MPs at 0.05%, 0.5%, and 5% (w/w soil), and immune parameters, including total haemocyte count, haemocyte viability, phenoloxidase (PO)-like activity, and haemolymph protein content, were assessed alongside survival and growth. Overall, MP exposure induced sex-dependent alterations in immune status, with males and females exhibiting distinct response patterns: females exhibited reduced haemocyte-related parameters at specific MP concentrations, whereas males showed higher haemolymph protein levels and increased growth at the highest concentration. PO-like activity was consistently higher in females. Although not all responses were statistically significant, effect size analysis indicated medium to large sex-related differences across multiple endpoints. Most of the effects were related to the dose of MP, with changes detectable already at lower concentrations. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating sex as a biological factor in ecotoxicological studies and support the use of immune markers as sensitive indicators of sublethal environmental stress.
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Sex-based differences in toxicity after exposure to microplastics or nanoplastics in aquatic and terrestrial organisms: A systematic review
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This systematic review found consistent sex-based differences in how organisms respond to micro- and nanoplastic exposure, with females often showing greater reproductive and hormonal vulnerability. These findings suggest that microplastic health risk assessments should account for biological sex as a variable, which has important implications for understanding human exposure risks.
Sex-specific toxicological observations following 28-day oral gavage exposure to spherical and milled polystyrene nano- and microplastic particles in mice
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Mice fed tiny plastic particles (like those found in food and water) for a month showed different health effects depending on their sex: males developed more gallbladder inflammation, while females had changes in their gut lining and mucus production. Overall body weight and blood tests looked normal, but the plastic particles did travel into the liver and intestines in both sexes, suggesting that even short-term microplastic exposure may affect male and female bodies differently, which matters as scientists work out what these ubiquitous plastic particles mean for long-term human health.
Effects of Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics on the Reproductive System, Intestinal Structure, and Microflora in Male and Female Mice
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Researchers exposed male and female mice to PVC microplastics to study how they affect reproductive health, intestinal tissue, and gut bacteria. The study found that PVC microplastics damaged the reproductive organs and intestinal lining in both sexes, but the specific effects differed between males and females. The findings suggest that microplastic exposure may disrupt gut health and reproductive function in sex-specific ways.
Exposure to polystyrene microplastic beads causes sex-specific toxic effects in the model insect Drosophila melanogaster
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Researchers fed fruit flies (Drosophila) polystyrene microplastics and found toxic effects that differed between males and females. Exposed flies showed changes in feeding behavior, digestion, and excretion, with females experiencing greater reproductive impacts. This study is significant because it demonstrates that microplastic toxicity can be sex-specific, suggesting that health effects in humans might also differ between men and women.
Sex-Specific Effects of Polystyrene Microplastic and Lead(II) Co-Exposure on the Gut Microbiome and Fecal Metabolome in C57BL/6 Mice
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Researchers exposed male and female mice to a combination of polystyrene microplastics and lead, finding that the effects on gut bacteria and metabolism differed significantly between sexes. Female mice showed greater disruption to their gut microbiome diversity, while different metabolic pathways were affected in each sex. This study is important because it suggests that microplastic health effects may differ between men and women, and that microplastics can make heavy metal exposure worse by carrying metals into the digestive system.
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