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Inhalation of nanoplastics in the mouse model: Tissue bio-distribution and effects on the olfactory system
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Mice that inhaled polystyrene nanoplastics for one week accumulated the particles in their brains, lungs, fat tissue, and testicles. Although the particles cleared from most tissues within a month, the mice suffered lasting damage to their sense of smell, with reduced brain cell function and signs of inflammation in the olfactory region. This is the first study to show that inhaled nanoplastics can impair the sense of smell and trigger long-term brain changes, even after the particles are gone.
The impact of plastic fragments on human health is currently under investigation, with nanoplastics (NPs) being particularly concerning due to their small size. This allows them to be inhaled, pass through blood barriers, and reach various organs. In this study, we evaluated the effects of airborne NPs on the mouse olfactory system, which is a primary target of NPs inhalation. Adult mice were exposed to an aerosol solution containing synthetic polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) labelled with a red fluorophore for 5 h a day over 7 days. Biodistribution analysis revealed that PS-NPs accumulated in tissues, such as brain, lung, adipose tissue, and testicles, but were cleared after one month. This study is the first to investigate the effects of inhaled PS-NPs on the olfactory bulb (OB) and subventricular neurogenesis in adult mice. We observed long-term impairments in olfactory discrimination, decreased neuronal functionality, and pro-inflammatory activation in microglia in OB following PS-NPs exposure. Surprisingly, we noted a compensatory increase in olfactory neurogenesis, although insufficient to counteract the olfaction impairment induced by the PS-NPs. These results provide novel insights into the potential neurotoxic effects of inhaled PS-NPs and emphasize the importance of assessing occupational and environmental exposure to these pollutants.
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Bioeffects of Inhaled Nanoplastics on Neurons and Alteration of Animal Behaviors through Deposition in the Brain
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Researchers demonstrated that nanoplastics inhaled through the nose can travel along the olfactory nerve and deposit directly in the brain, causing neuron damage and altered behavior in mice. Using a microfluidic chip to study neuron interactions, they found that smaller particles with specific surface charges caused the most severe cell damage. The study provides direct evidence that airborne nanoplastics can reach the brain through inhalation and may pose neurotoxic risks.
Short-term PS-NP exposure in early adulthood induces neuronal damage in middle-aged mice via microglia-mediated neuroinflammation
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Researchers orally dosed young mice with polystyrene nanoplastics for one week and observed, ten months later, that particles persisted in brain tissue and drove microglial-mediated neuroinflammation, synapse loss, and cognitive impairment — with minocycline treatment confirming that microglial activation was the key driver of long-term neuronal damage.
In vivo impact assessment of orally administered polystyrene nanoplastics: biodistribution, toxicity, and inflammatory response in mice
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Researchers orally administered polystyrene nanoplastics to mice for two weeks and tracked their distribution and biological effects. The nanoplastics accumulated primarily in the intestine, kidneys, and liver, triggering significant inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in these organs despite no visible tissue damage. The study provides evidence that even short-term oral exposure to nanoplastics can cause meaningful inflammatory changes in multiple organ systems.
Murine hippocampal CA3 vulnerability to intravenously administered polystyrene nanoplastics: preferential accumulation and ROS-related neuronal cell death
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In mice injected with tiny polystyrene plastic particles, the particles built up mainly in a specific brain region (hippocampal CA3), where nerve cells died off and showed signs of oxidative stress. These mice also performed worse on memory and learning tests compared to untreated mice.
Neurotoxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on memory and microglial activation: Insights from in vivo and in vitro studies
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In a mouse study, tiny nanoplastics (30-50 nanometers) that were swallowed reached the brain and caused memory problems by activating the brain's immune cells, called microglia, which triggered inflammation. This is concerning because it shows that nanoplastics small enough to be found in everyday products like cosmetics could cross into the brain and impair cognitive function.
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