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Invisible threats of microplastics induced toxicity: Oxidative and inflammatory pathways in the CNS and retina
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Tiny plastic particles that we ingest and breathe in every day may be able to sneak past the brain's and eye's natural protective barriers, where they can trigger inflammation and stress cells out, potentially playing a role in conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and macular degeneration. This review pulls together existing animal and lab research on the topic, but it's important to note that solid proof in humans is still lacking, partly because these particles are so hard to detect and study. Still, given how common microplastic exposure has become, the findings are a strong signal that we need more research to understand what this means for long-term brain and eye health.
The global spread of microplastics has become a serious public health concern. Once thought to be inert, microplastics are now recognized as biologically active agents capable of accumulating in the body and causing toxic effects across organ systems. This review summarizes current evidence on their oxidative and inflammatory effects in the central nervous system (CNS) and the eye. Studies show that microplastics can cross biological barriers such as the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-retinal barrier (BRB), where they are taken up by cells, impair mitochondria, and trigger inflammation. Microplastics have been found in cerebrospinal fluid, brain tissue, and ocular structures, raising concern about their link to neurodegenerative and retinal diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, macular degeneration, and other disorders. Mechanistic data indicate activation of NF-κB and TGF-β1 pathways, promotion of protein aggregation, and disruption of neural signaling. In the eye, microplastics have been linked to oxidative stress, corneal thinning, and photoreceptor damage. However, human studies are limited due to challenges in detecting tiny particles and lack of microplastic-free controls. Research is further hindered by inconsistent definitions, particle diversity, and non-physiological exposure models. We highlight the need for standardized methods, multi-omics tools, and long-term studies to better understand exposure impacts. Given the rise in neurological and ocular diseases, clarifying the role of microplastics is essential for effective public health strategies.
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Researchers assess microplastic neurotoxicity in a diabetic animal model, finding that even at ambient environmental concentrations, both acute and chronic microplastic exposure impairs neurological functions including memory, behavior, and cognitive processes, with diabetic physiology potentially amplifying these adverse effects on the nervous system.
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Researchers reviewed human exposure pathways to microplastics and nanoplastics through seafood, salt, drinking water, inhalation, and skin contact, examining how these particles cross biological barriers to reach organs and trigger oxidative stress, inflammation, and endocrine disruption with poorly understood long-term consequences.
Biochemical Effects of Microplastics on Human Health: A Comprehensive Review
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A comprehensive review documents how microplastics enter the human body through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact, then reach the lungs, liver, kidneys, brain, and reproductive organs, triggering oxidative stress, inflammation, endocrine disruption, and genotoxicity. These biochemical pathways link microplastic exposure to serious chronic conditions including metabolic syndrome, neurodegenerative disease, reproductive dysfunction, and cancer.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.