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Systemic effects of nanoplastics on multi-organ at the environmentally relevant dose: The insights in physiological, histological, and oxidative damages
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Researchers gave mice nanoplastics at doses estimated to match real-world human exposure levels and found the particles crossed the intestinal barrier and accumulated in the liver and kidneys. Even at these low, environmentally relevant doses, the nanoplastics caused oxidative stress and tissue damage across multiple organs. The findings suggest that everyday nanoplastic exposure may pose broader health risks than previously assumed.
Nanoplastics (NPs) are ubiquitous contaminants that have adverse effects on human health. Previous research has explored the toxicity of NPs on specific organs at high doses, but this is insufficient for accurate health risk assessments. In the present study, a systematic study of NPs toxicity in the liver, kidney, and intestine was performed on mice at an equivalent dose of potential human exposure and toxic dose for four weeks. The results revealed that NPs penetrated the intestinal barrier and accumulated in various organs including liver, kidney, and intestine via the clathrin-mediated endocytosis, phagocytosis, and paracellular pathways. At the toxic dose, damage scores on physiology, morphology, and redox balance were more than twice that at the environmentally relevant dose, which was dose-depended. The jejunum experienced the most severe damage compared to the liver and kidney. In addition, a significant correlation between biomarkers was found, such as TNF-α and cholinesterase levels, indicating a close connection between the intestine and liver. Remarkably, the NPs exposed mice had an approximate double reactive oxygen species content compared to the control. This study promotes comprehensive understanding of health risks caused by NPs throughout the body and informs future policies and regulations to mitigate NPs-related health concerns.
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Evidence on Invasion of Blood, Adipose Tissues, Nervous System and Reproductive System of Mice After a Single Oral Exposure: Nanoplastics versus Microplastics.
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Researchers found that after a single oral exposure in mice, nanoplastics were rapidly absorbed into the blood, accumulated in fat tissues, and crossed both the blood-brain and blood-testis barriers. The study demonstrated that the distribution and behavior of plastic particles in mammals is strongly dependent on particle size, with nanoplastics showing substantially greater tissue penetration than microplastics.
Analysis of Biodistribution and in vivo Toxicity of Varying Sized Polystyrene Micro and Nanoplastics in Mice
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This study found that smaller plastic particles spread more widely through the bodies of mice and caused more organ damage than larger ones, particularly in the liver, kidneys, and heart. Nanoplastics (under 1 micrometer) were especially concerning because they crossed biological barriers more easily than microplastics. The results suggest that the tiniest plastic particles in our environment may pose the greatest health risks.
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