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Gut-ovary axis mediated synergistic reproductive toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and perfluorobutanoic acid co-exposure: pyroptotic signaling and probiotic mitigation
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Researchers found that combined exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and the industrial chemical perfluorobutanoic acid caused more severe ovarian damage in rats than either contaminant alone, reducing healthy follicles and disrupting hormone levels. The combined exposure damaged the gut barrier, elevated inflammatory markers in the bloodstream, and activated cell death pathways in ovarian tissue through what the researchers describe as a gut-ovary axis. Supplementation with the probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P101 partially protected against the ovarian injury by modulating gut microbiota.
Polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPLs) and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) are pervasive contaminants of great concern and can enter human body primarily through gastrointestinal tract. However, their single and combined effects on female reproductive health remain poorly explored. In this study, PFBA was found to be adsorbed onto PS-NPLs through both chemical and physical interactions. Compared with single exposure, co-exposure to PS-NPLs (0.04 mg/d) and PFBA (0.28 mg/d) for 28 days caused more severe ovarian toxicity in rats, as evidenced by decreased primordial follicles, increased follicular atresia, and sex hormone abnormalities. Mechanistically, the co-exposure was associated with the gut barrier damage and elevated levels of lipopolysaccharide in the bloodstream, concomitant with altered redox homeostasis, inflammation and NLRP3/caspase-1-related pyroptosis of the ovary. Moreover, supplementation with probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P101 partially attenuated ovarian injury via modulating gut microbiota and mitigating the above process. Taken together, our study revealed a synergistic impact of PS-NPLs and PFBA on female reproduction, uncovered the underlying mechanisms from the perspective of gut-ovary axis, and provided valuable insights into potential preventive strategies.
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Researchers found that when human ovarian cells are exposed to both nanoplastics and triclosan (a common antibacterial chemical) at the same time, the toxic effects are worse than either one alone. The combination triggered more cell damage, harmful oxygen molecules, and cell death than individual exposure. This matters because people are typically exposed to multiple pollutants simultaneously, and this synergy could have implications for female reproductive health.
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Researchers tested whether probiotic supplementation could protect against reproductive toxicity caused by polystyrene microplastic exposure in male rats, finding that PS-MP caused dose-dependent testicular damage and disrupted kisspeptin signaling in the hypothalamus. Probiotics partially reversed these effects, suggesting a gut-testis axis through which microbiome modulation may mitigate reproductive harm.
Gut–Liver Axis Mediates the Combined Hepatointestinal Toxicity of Triclosan and Polystyrene Microplastics in Mice: Implications for Human Co-Exposure Risks
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Mice co-exposed to the antimicrobial triclosan and polystyrene microplastics showed markedly worse intestinal and liver damage than those exposed to either contaminant alone, with gut microbiome disruption identified as a key mediating mechanism.
Synergistic Toxicity of Combined Exposure to Acrylamide and Polystyrene Nanoplastics on the Gut–Liver Axis in Mice
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Researchers exposed mice to a combination of acrylamide, a common food processing byproduct, and polystyrene nanoplastics through drinking water and found that the combined exposure caused more severe gut and liver damage than either substance alone. The co-exposure disrupted gut barrier integrity, altered gut bacteria composition, and caused widespread metabolic changes. The study suggests that the interaction between nanoplastics and other food contaminants may amplify health risks beyond what each poses individually.
Interfacial effects of perfluorooctanoic acid and its alternative hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid with polystyrene nanoplastics on oxidative stress, histopathology and gut microbiota in Crassostrea hongkongensis oysters
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Researchers exposed oysters to polystyrene nanoplastics combined with PFAS chemicals (including the GenX replacement for PFOA) and found that the combination caused worse oxidative stress, tissue damage, and gut bacteria disruption than any single pollutant. The newer GenX chemical was not safer than the older PFOA it was designed to replace when combined with nanoplastics. Since oysters are eaten raw by humans, these findings raise concerns about the combined effects of multiple pollutants accumulating in shellfish.
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