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Pulmonary Toxicity of Polystyrene, Polypropylene, and Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics in Mice
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Researchers tested the lung toxicity of three common microplastic types (polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride) in mice and found that all three caused pulmonary inflammation, but through different mechanisms. Polyvinyl chloride produced the most severe inflammatory response, while polystyrene and polypropylene showed distinct patterns of immune activation. The study suggests that the type of plastic inhaled matters for understanding respiratory health risks from airborne microplastics.
Globally, plastics are used in various products. Concerns regarding the human body's exposure to plastics and environmental pollution have increased with increased plastic use. Microplastics can be detected in the atmosphere, leading to potential human health risks through inhalation; however, the toxic effects of microplastic inhalation are poorly understood. In this study, we examined the pulmonary toxicity of polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in C57BL/6, BALB/c, and ICR mice strains. Mice were intratracheally instilled with 5 mg/kg of PS, PP, or PVC daily for two weeks. PS stimulation increased inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of C57BL/6 and ICR mice. Histopathological analysis of PS-instilled C57BL/6 and PP-instilled ICR mice showed inflammatory cell infiltration. PS increased the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome components in the lung tissue of C57BL/6 and ICR mice, while PS-instilled BALB/c mice remained unchanged. PS stimulation increased inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β and IL-6, in BALF of C57BL/6 mice. PP-instilled ICR mice showed increased NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 in the lung tissue compared to the control groups and increased IL-1β levels in BALF. These results could provide baseline data for understanding the pulmonary toxicity of microplastic inhalation.
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Researchers tested the lung toxicity of three common plastic types -- polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene -- in mice by exposing them to microplastic fragments. The study assessed how these inhaled microplastic particles from everyday plastics affect lung health, which is relevant since humans regularly breathe in airborne microplastics.
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Researchers compared the lung toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics made from polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene in mice and human lung cells. They found that all particle types induced signs of pulmonary fibrosis, inflammation, and tissue remodeling, with polystyrene nanoplastics causing the most severe effects. The study suggests that smaller nanoplastic particles and certain polymer types may pose greater risks to lung health.
Route-dependent immune modulation and long-term lung retention after polypropylene microplastic exposure in mice
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When mice breathed in polypropylene microplastics (a common plastic found in food packaging and textiles), it triggered lung inflammation and made allergy symptoms worse, but when the same plastic entered the body a different way, it affected the immune system differently. This suggests how microplastics enter our bodies (through breathing vs. other routes) may matter a lot for their health effects, and even brief exposures were enough to cause noticeable immune changes, raising questions about the impact of repeated, everyday exposure to plastic pollution.
Investigation of Pulmonary Inflammatory Responses Following Intratracheal instillation of and Inhalation exposure to Polypropylene Microplastics
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Researchers conducted short-term pulmonary toxicity studies by exposing mice to polypropylene microplastics via intratracheal instillation and inhalation, finding dose-dependent inflammatory responses in lung tissue that confirm inhalation as a significant exposure route of concern.
Inhalation of Environmental Polystyrene Micro/Nanoplastics Induces Pulmonary Toxicity and Synergistically Exacerbates Acute Lung Injury in Male Mice
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Breathing in tiny plastic particles—like those found in air pollution—caused lung inflammation and breathing problems in mice, even without any other health issues. Even more concerning, mice that had already inhaled these plastic particles got much sicker when exposed to a bacterial infection afterward, suggesting that everyday plastic pollution in the air we breathe could make our lungs more vulnerable to future illness. Smaller "microplastic" particles (as opposed to even tinier "nanoplastics") seemed to cause the most damage, highlighting that size matters when it comes to how harmful these particles are.
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