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Evaluating the toxicity of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in human bronchial epithelial cells: differences and challenges using aerosol and suspension exposures
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Scientists exposed human lung cells to tiny plastic particles (the kind found in air pollution) using two different lab methods, and both showed the cells reacted with inflammation, though the exact signals differed depending on how the plastics were delivered. While the plastics didn't kill the cells or trigger cell damage, the inflammatory response suggests inhaling microplastics could irritate lung tissue over time, but scientists still need to agree on the best way to test this in labs before we know exactly how risky real-world exposure is.
Objective: Studies investigating toxicity of airborne micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are mostly based on conventional submerged cell cultures while limited studies utilize air-liquid interface (ALI) systems. Inherent differences in these culture/exposure modalities, such as particle behavior and deposited dose, likely affect cellular responses. To investigate this, we exposed submerged human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) to polystyrene (PS) MNPs vs. aerosol exposure of ALI cultures. Methods: First, submerged bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) were exposed to suspensions of PS particles (50 nm or 1 µm) in four different applied concentrations (0.79–50 µg/cm2; 24 h). Second, BEAS-2B cells were cultured at ALI and exposed in a cloud system to PS 1 µm particles (deposited dose: 55.4 µg/cm2; 24 h). Toxicity readouts focused on cytotoxicity (LDH release), inflammation (IL-8 release and transcriptional activation of inflammatory genes), and oxidative stress (DCFH-DA assay, antioxidant gene expression, and assessment of reduced/oxidized glutathione). Results: In both models, PS exposure did not induce cell death, or an antioxidant response. However, NF-κB transcriptional activity was strongly upregulated in submerged cells in response to both sizes of PS particles in a dose-dependent manner. Gene expression of CXCL1, CXCL2, and CXCL8 increased up to 7-fold after PS microplastic exposure (50 µg/cm2) in the submerged model (which was less pronounced in response to PS nanoplastics) and 2-fold in the ALI model. In contrast, IL-8 secretion increased 1.6-fold for the ALI, but not the submerged model. Conclusions: Overall, both exposure modalities revealed an inflammatory response toward PS MNPs although with differences, likely due to significant differences in deposited dose. © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
More Papers Like This
Evaluating the toxicity of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in human bronchial epithelial cells: differences and challenges using aerosol and suspension exposures
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists exposed human lung cells to tiny plastic particles (the kind found in air pollution) using two different lab methods, and both showed signs of inflammation in the cells—though the cells didn't die or show classic damage signals. This matters because it adds to growing evidence that breathing in microplastics may trigger low-level lung inflammation, but it also shows that how scientists test these effects in the lab can change the results, so more consistent research is needed before we know exactly how risky everyday plastic exposure really is.
Evaluating the toxicity of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in human bronchial epithelial cells: differences and challenges using aerosol and suspension exposures
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists exposed human lung cells to tiny plastic particles (microplastics and nanoplastics) using two different lab methods—one where cells sit in liquid with plastic mixed in, and a more realistic one where particles are delivered through air, mimicking actual breathing. Neither method showed the plastics killing cells or causing oxidative damage, but both triggered inflammation signals, suggesting inhaled plastic particles may irritate lung tissue even without causing outright cell death. This matters because as we learn more about airborne microplastics, it's important to test them in ways that accurately reflect real-world inhalation, since the
Evaluating the toxicity of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in human bronchial epithelial cells: differences and challenges using aerosol and suspension exposures
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists exposed human lung cells to tiny plastic particles (microplastics and nanoplastics) using two different lab methods—one that mimics real breathing (air exposure) and one that's more traditional (liquid exposure). While the plastics didn't kill cells or cause oxidative damage in either method, they did trigger inflammation—the body's normal alarm response to foreign invaders—though the pattern of that response differed depending on the testing method used. This matters because as we learn more about the microplastics we breathe in daily, this study shows that how scientists test these particles in the lab can significantly affect what health risks they detect, highl
Publication package, Evaluating the toxicity of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in human bronchial epithelial cells: differences and challenges using aerosol and suspension exposures
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists tested how tiny plastic particles (the kind found in air pollution and everyday products) affect human lung cells, comparing two different methods: spraying particles directly onto cells like a mist versus dunking cells in a liquid mixture. This matters because how researchers test these particles in the lab can change what results they get, which means we need better, more consistent methods to truly understand whether breathing in microplastics is harmful to our lungs. The study is more about improving testing methods than delivering a final answer on microplastic safety.
Short-Term Cellular Responses to Sub-100 nm PMMA and Polystyrene-Based Copolymer Nanoplastics in Human Embryonic Lung Fibroblasts: Cytotoxicity and Redox-Associated Markers
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Scientists exposed human lung cells to tiny plastic particles, the kind you might inhale from air pollution, and found that different plastic types affected cell stress and damage responses differently, with one formulation causing harm at much lower amounts than others. This early lab study suggests not all nanoplastics are equally risky, but more research is needed before we understand real-world health effects.
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