We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effect of disruption in the intestinal barrier function during the transgenerational process on nanoplastic toxicity induction in Caenorhabditis elegans
AI summary Read the abstract
This study found that nanoplastics can cause toxic effects that pass from parents to offspring across generations in tiny roundworms. The damage was linked to disruption of the intestinal barrier, which normally protects against harmful substances. These findings raise concerns that nanoplastic exposure could have long-lasting health effects beyond a single generation.
After exposure at the parental generation (P0-G), nanoplastics can induce transgenerational toxicity.
More Papers Like This
Size-dependent transgenerational toxicity induced by nanoplastics in nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers discovered that nanoplastic exposure in nematode worms caused toxic effects that persisted across multiple generations, even when offspring were raised in clean conditions. Smaller nanoplastics (20 nm) produced more severe and longer-lasting transgenerational effects than larger ones (100 nm), with toxicity detectable through the sixth generation. The study suggests that nanoplastic size is a critical factor in determining long-term biological impacts that can be passed down to future generations.
Long-term nanoplastics exposure results in multi and trans-generational reproduction decline associated with germline toxicity and epigenetic regulation in Caenorhabditis elegans
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers discovered that a single exposure to nanoplastics in mother roundworms caused reproductive decline that persisted across four subsequent unexposed generations. The study found that nanoplastics triggered DNA damage and cell death in reproductive cells, with these effects passed down through epigenetic changes rather than direct nanoplastic transfer to offspring. This finding suggests that nanoplastic exposure may have lasting consequences for fertility that extend well beyond the initially exposed generation.
Parental Exposure to Nanoplastics and Graphene Oxide Induces Transgenerational Toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists exposed tiny worms to nanoplastics and graphene oxide (materials found in plastic pollution and some industrial products) and found the damage—cell stress that harms growth, movement, and reproduction—was passed down to offspring who were never directly exposed. While this study was done in worms, not humans, it raises concerns that plastic pollution exposure could have effects that ripple into future generations, which is important as we consider the real-world health impact of ever-increasing plastic waste in our environment.
Polystyrene nanoplastics induced transgenerational reproductive toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans through enhanced DNA damage accompanied by DNA repair inhibition
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed roundworms (C. elegans) to polystyrene nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations and found that reproductive harm persisted across multiple generations, even after exposure stopped. The nanoplastics caused DNA damage while simultaneously suppressing the organisms' DNA repair mechanisms, creating a compounding effect. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure may have lasting consequences that are passed down through generations, amplifying harm beyond the originally exposed organisms.
Comparison of Transgenerational Neurotoxicity between Pristine and Amino-Modified Nanoplastics in C. elegans
AI summary Read the abstract
Using tiny roundworms as a model, researchers found that chemically modified nanoplastics caused more severe nerve damage than unmodified ones -- and this damage was passed down to future generations even at very low doses. The study identified specific genetic pathways responsible for this inherited toxicity, raising concerns about how surface-modified nanoplastics in the environment could have long-lasting effects on nervous system health across generations.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.