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Intestinal Barrier Damage and Growth Retardation Caused by Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics Through Lactation Milk in Developing Mice

Nanomaterials 2025 5 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 63 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Xiaodan Wang, Xiaodan Wang, Xiaodan Wang, Chaoyu Zhou, Chaoyu Zhou, Chaoyu Zhou, Haiyan Wu, Xiaodan Wang, Xiaodan Wang, Haiyan Wu, Haiyan Wu, Haiyan Wu, Xiaodan Wang, Qianyu Bai, Mingju Li, Lei Zhang, Mingju Li, Qianyu Bai, Xiao Xiao, Yinzhu Chen, Runqiu Cai, Runqiu Cai, Yinzhu Chen, Xiaodan Wang, Jia You, Jia You, Xiaodan Wang, Runqiu Cai, Runqiu Cai, Xiaodan Wang, Xiaodan Wang, Mingju Li, Mingju Li, Runqiu Cai, Xiaodan Wang, Runqiu Cai, Jia You, Xinyuan Tian, Xinyuan Tian, Jia You, Quan Chen, Qianyu Bai, Qianyu Bai, Yinzhu Chen, Tianlong Liu Yinzhu Chen, Yifei Yang, Xinyuan Tian, Xinyuan Tian, Tianlong Liu Qianyu Bai, Qianyu Bai, Yinzhu Chen, Yinzhu Chen, Huihui Bao, Tianlong Liu

Summary

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.

Polymers

Body Systems

Hepatic Renal

Models

Mouse

Study Type Environmental

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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