Oropharyngeal Administration of Polystyrene Microplastic Particles Induces Profibrotic Oxidative Damage in Mouse Lung Tissue

Comparison of lung disorders following intratracheal instillation of polystyrene microplastics with different surface functional groups

Cellular Uptake and Nuclear Accumulation of Polystyrene Nanoplastics in 3T3 Fibroblasts and Hepatocytes of Rattus norvegicus

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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles called nanoplastics can get inside liver and connective tissue cells from rats, and even sneak into the cell's nucleus, where DNA is stored. Cells exposed to these plastics showed signs of stress and damage, including swelling and higher rates of cell death, suggesting these ultra-small plastic particles may be more harmful than previously thought. While this study used animal cells rather than human cells, it raises important questions about what everyday exposure to nanoplastics (found in food packaging, water, and other sources) might mean for our own cellular health.

Chronic Toxicity of Polystyrene Microplastics in Blood and Organs of Albino Mice: a Histopathological and Biochemical Assessment

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Researchers assessed chronic toxicity of polystyrene microplastics in albino mice through histopathological and biochemical analysis of blood and organs, examining how repeated exposure alters tissue integrity and physiological markers over time.

Cellular and Animal Toxicities of Micro- and Nanoplastics

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Researchers reviewed evidence from cell and animal studies on the toxic effects of micro- and nanoplastics, finding that these particles can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and organ damage in laboratory models, raising concern about what chronic low-level human exposure might mean for long-term health.

Polyethylene Microplastics Disrupt Cardiopulmonary Homeostasis via Oxidative Stress, Inflammatory Crosstalk, and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Wistar Rats

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Male Wistar rats orally dosed with polyethylene microplastics for 28 days showed elevated cardiac and pulmonary injury biomarkers, suppressed antioxidant defenses, inhibited mitochondrial TCA cycle enzymes, and disrupted respiratory chain complexes, indicating simultaneous heart and lung damage through shared oxidative and inflammatory pathways. The study suggests that routine microplastic ingestion may impose systemic cardiopulmonary stress, with organ-specific dose-response differences suggesting the lungs may be particularly sensitive.