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Inhalable Textile Microplastic Fibers Impair Airway Epithelial Differentiation
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Researchers exposed lung cells and mice to textile microplastic fibers (nylon and polyester) and found that nylon fibers significantly impaired airway cell growth and development. The damage came from chemicals leaching out of the nylon rather than the physical fibers themselves, and the effects persisted even after exposure ended. This is relevant because textile fibers are one of the most common types of microplastics people inhale daily.
Rationale: Microplastics are a pressing global concern, and inhalation of microplastic fibers has been associated with interstitial and bronchial inflammation in flock workers. However, how microplastic fibers affect the lungs is unknown. Objectives: Our aim was to assess the effects of 12 × 31 μm nylon 6,6 (nylon) and 15 × 52 μm polyethylene terephthalate (polyester) textile microplastic fibers on lung epithelial growth and differentiation. Methods: We used human and murine alveolar and airway-type organoids as well as air-liquid interface cultures derived from primary lung epithelial progenitor cells and incubated these with either nylon or polyester fibers or nylon leachate. In addition, mice received one dose of nylon fibers or nylon leachate, and, 7 days later, organoid-forming capacity of isolated epithelial cells was investigated. Measurements and Main Results: We observed that nylon microfibers, more than polyester, inhibited developing airway organoids and not established ones. This effect was mediated by components leaching from nylon. Epithelial cells isolated from mice exposed to nylon fibers or leachate also formed fewer airway organoids, suggesting long-lasting effects of nylon components on epithelial cells. Part of these effects was recapitulated in human air-liquid interface cultures. Transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulation of Hoxa5 after exposure to nylon fibers. Inhibiting Hoxa5 during nylon exposure restored airway organoid formation, confirming Hoxa5's pivotal role in the effects of nylon. Conclusions: These results suggest that components leaching from nylon 6,6 may especially harm developing airways and/or airways undergoing repair, and we strongly encourage characterization in more detail of both the hazard of and the exposure to microplastic fibers.
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This study found that nylon and polyester textile microplastic fibers impaired the growth and differentiation of epithelial cells in laboratory experiments, suggesting that inhaled fibers may damage lung tissue. The findings provide a potential biological mechanism for the lung disease observed in workers who inhale nylon flock particles occupationally.
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Scientists exposed lung cells from human airways to tiny plastic particles (from nylon and PVC, two common plastics) to see how they'd react, similar to what might happen when we breathe in airborne microplastics. The smallest particles caused cell damage and triggered inflammation-related signals, with PVC causing harm at lower doses than nylon—suggesting the type and size of plastic particles we inhale may matter for lung health. This is early-stage lab research, so more studies are needed to confirm what this means for people breathing in real-world air.
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