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Intestinal Barrier Damage and Growth Retardation Caused by Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics Through Lactation Milk in Developing Mice
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In a study on developing mice, polystyrene nanoplastics transferred from mother to pup through breast milk caused delayed weight gain and significant intestinal damage, including shortened gut lining structures and weakened barriers between intestinal cells. The gut was the primary target of damage even at relatively low doses, while organs like the liver and kidneys showed impaired development without obvious toxic injury. These findings are concerning because they suggest that infants could be exposed to nanoplastics through breast milk, with their developing gut being particularly vulnerable.
Microplastics, defined as plastic fragments smaller than 5 mm, degrade from larger pollutants, with nanoscale microplastic particles presenting significant biological interactions. This study investigates the toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) on juvenile mice, which were exposed through lactation milk and drinking water at concentrations of 0.01 mg/mL, 0.1 mg/mL, and 1 mg/mL. The results show that PS-NP exposure during lactation and juvenile periods caused delayed weight gain and impaired organ development, particularly in the liver and kidneys, without causing functional abnormalities or toxic injuries. The primary toxicity of PS-NPs was observed in the intestinal tract, including shortened villi, disrupted tight junctions, inhibited epithelial cell proliferation, and oxidative stress responses. These findings highlight the importance of evaluating the developmental toxicity of nanoplastics at environmentally relevant doses.
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Polystyrene microplastics exposure: Disruption of intestinal barrier integrity and hepatic function in infant mice
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Researchers found that even low concentrations of polystyrene microplastics caused significant gut barrier damage and liver injury in infant mice. The microplastics disrupted the intestinal lining, allowed particles to leak into the bloodstream, and triggered liver fat accumulation and altered gut bacteria colonization. The study raises concerns about microplastic exposure during early life, when developing digestive and liver systems may be especially vulnerable.
Chronic exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics induces intestinal mechanical and immune barrier dysfunction in mice
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In a long-term study, mice that drank water containing polystyrene nanoplastics for 32 weeks developed significant damage to their intestinal barriers and immune defenses. The nanoplastics disrupted the tight junctions that keep the gut lining sealed, caused inflammation, increased oxidative stress, and altered immune cell populations in the intestines. This research suggests that chronic, low-level nanoplastic exposure through drinking water could gradually weaken the gut's ability to protect the body from harmful substances.
Polystyrene microplastics induce potential toxicity through the gut-mammary axis
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Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics consumed by nursing mice damaged both the gut and mammary glands, disrupting the protective barrier between blood and breast milk. This gut-mammary connection means microplastics could potentially affect not just the person who consumes them but also nursing infants through contaminated breast milk.
Maternal Polystyrene Nanoplastic Exposure Impairs Cardiac Development in Mouse Offspring and Identifies Lactation as a Sensitive Window in Males
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When pregnant mice were exposed to nanoplastics (tiny plastic particles), their babies developed weaker, damaged hearts — and surprisingly, exposure through breast milk caused even more harm than exposure in the womb. Male offspring also showed disrupted gut bacteria alongside the heart changes, suggesting the two problems may be linked. While this is animal research, it raises real concerns about how microplastic exposure during pregnancy and breastfeeding could affect infant heart development in humans.
Polystyrene nanoplastics disrupt the intestinal microenvironment by altering bacteria-host interactions through extracellular vesicle-delivered microRNAs
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Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics disrupt the gut lining in mice by altering tiny RNA molecules that control the production of protective proteins in the intestinal barrier. The nanoplastics also caused an imbalance in gut bacteria, creating a chain reaction where damaged gut cells release particles that further weaken the intestinal barrier and change the microbiome.
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