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Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) microplastics affect angiogenesis and central nervous system (CNS) development of duck embryo
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Researchers investigated how polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) microplastics, commonly known from Teflon products, affect the development of duck embryos. They found that PTFE exposure disrupted blood vessel formation and central nervous system development, leading to structural abnormalities. The study adds PTFE to the list of microplastic types that may pose developmental risks, expanding understanding beyond the more commonly studied polystyrene and polyethylene particles.
Prolonged exposure to teratogens is known to cause neural tube defects (NTDs), a severe malformation of the central nervous system (CNS) that significantly contributes to global infant mortality. In recent years, exposure to nanoplastics (NPs) has been linked to faulty neural crest closure and altered neurulation by altering cellular adhesion molecules and accumulation of plastic particles in the neural tube leading to NTDs. However, research on the influence of various types of microplastics (MPs) on malformations of the CNS are still limited. In this study, we investigated whether MPs of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)—a type of plastic commonly used as non-stick coatings of cooking utensils can affect angiogenesis and CNS development using ducks as model organisms. PTFE MPs were administered on Day 3 of duck embryo development at varying concentrations (0.01 mg/ml, 0.1 mg/ml, 1 mg/ml, and 5 mg/ml), and angiogenesis was evaluated using a chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Gross morphology and histology of the spinal column and brain were analyzed on Days 8 and 18, respectively. FTIR confirmed PTFE's structure, while SEM and DLS analyses showed particle sizes between 300 nm and 5 μm, classifying them as MPs. High concentrations (5 mg/ml) of PTFE MPs treated on duck embryos resulted in a 35% mortality rate and reduced vascular density, suggesting anti-angiogenic effects. Brain and spinal abnormalities, such as encephalomalacia and spinal cord discontinuities were observed in the PTFE-treated embryos. Based on these results, PTFE is an anti-angiogenic and teratogenic agent affecting the development of duck embryos.
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Researchers investigated the in vivo toxicity and pharmacokinetics of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) microplastics in mice, finding that these particles accumulated in organs and caused dose-dependent inflammatory responses and oxidative stress.
Polytetrafluoroethylene microplastic properties, pollution, toxicity and analysis: a review
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This review found that cooking with Teflon-coated (PTFE) pans releases thousands to millions of microplastic and nanoplastic particles per use, directly contaminating food. PTFE microplastics have been found in human tissue, wildlife, water, and air. Given how widely non-stick cookware is used in homes, this is one of the most direct and everyday sources of microplastic exposure for most people.
Preliminary evidence of polyvinyl chloride microplastics inducing ferroptosis in the cerebral cortex of ducks
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Scientists found that when ducks drank water containing PVC microplastics (a common plastic found in pipes, packaging, and other everyday items), the plastic particles built up in their brains, weakened the protective barrier that shields the brain from harmful substances, and triggered a harmful type of cell death linked to iron buildup and damage. While this study was done in ducks, not humans, it adds to growing evidence that ingesting microplastics may harm the brain — a concern worth watching as research on human exposure continues.
Polytetrafluorethylene microplastic particles mediated oxidative stress, inflammation, and intracellular signaling pathway alteration in human derived cell lines
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Scientists tested PTFE (Teflon) microplastics on six types of human cells and found they caused oxidative stress, inflammation, and disrupted cell signaling pathways in most cell types. Smaller PTFE particles generally caused more damage than larger ones, and lung and intestinal cells were particularly affected. Since PTFE is widely used in nonstick cookware and other household products, these findings raise questions about health risks from Teflon-derived microplastic exposure.
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Researchers assessed the cardiovascular effects of polyethylene nanoplastics on developing zebrafish embryos and found that exposure above 50 micrograms per milliliter caused pericardial edema, reduced cardiac output, and impaired blood vessel formation. The nanoplastics also triggered oxidative stress and inflammation, which contributed to blood clot formation in the embryos. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure could pose risks to cardiovascular development in living organisms.
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