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Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on the Biology of Human Neural Stem Cells and Human Cerebral Organoids.
Summary
This study investigated the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on human neural stem cells and human cerebral organoids, examining whether nanoplastics that have been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier and placenta can disrupt normal brain development. Given the lack of prior research on nanoplastic effects on the developing brain, the findings carry significant implications for understanding neurodevelopmental risks from early-life plastic exposure.
Global plastic production has increased exponentially in recent decades and a significant proportion persists in the environment, where it is degraded by mechanical and physical processes giving rise to micro (< 5mm) and nanoplastics (< 1000 nm; NP) and can reach humans through ingestion, inhalation and the dermal route. There is growing concern about the effects that NPs may cause on human health, in particular there are few studies that assess the effect of NPs on the developing brain, although they have been shown to be able to cross the blood-brain barrier and the placenta.
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