We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Photoaging of polystyrene microspheres causes oxidative alterations to surface physicochemistry and enhances airway epithelial toxicity
Summary
Researchers photoaged polystyrene microspheres under ultraviolet radiation for five weeks and then compared their toxicity to pristine microspheres in A549 human lung cells. They found that UV aging increased polar surface groups on the particles and produced more pronounced oxidative stress, cell cycle arrest, and morphological changes than pristine microspheres, with toxicity further shaped by particle size, dose, and exposure duration.
Abstract Background: Microplastics represent an emerging environmental contaminant, with large gaps in our understanding of human health impacts from the myriad types of plastics. Furthermore, environmental factors may modify the plastic chemistry, further altering the toxic potency. Ultraviolet light is an unavoidable factor for airborne microplastic particulates and a known modifier of polystyrene surface chemistry. How such modifications impact the toxicity of polystyrene microparticles is unclear. As an experimental model, we aged commercially-available polystyrene microspheres for five weeks with ultraviolet radiation, then compared the cellular responses in A549 lung cells to both pristine and irradiated particulates. Results: Photoaging altered the surface morphology of irradiated microspheres and increased the intensities of polar groups on the near-surface region of the particles as indicated by scanning electron microscopy and by fitting of high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy C 1s spectra, respectively. Even at low concentrations (1-30 µg/ml), photoaged microspheres at 1 and 5 µm in diameter exerted more pronounced biological responses in the A549 cells than was caused by pristine microspheres. High-content imaging analysis revealed S and G2 cell cycle accumulation and morphological changes, which were also more pronounced in A549 cells treated with photoaged microspheres, and further influenced by the size, dose, and time of exposures. Polystyrene microspheres reduced intracellular barrier integrity and slowed regrowth in a wound healing assay in a manner dependent on dose, photoaging, and size of the microsphere. Conclusions: UV-photoaging enhanced the toxicity of polystyrene microspheres in A549 cells. Understanding the influence of weathering and environmental aging, along with size, shape, and chemistry, on biocompatibility of microplastics may be an essential consideration for incorporation of different plastics in products.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Photoaging of polystyrene microspheres causes oxidative alterations to surface physicochemistry and enhances airway epithelial toxicity
Researchers aged polystyrene microplastics with UV light and then tested their effects on human lung cells. They found that UV-weathered particles caused more pronounced biological responses than fresh ones, including cell cycle disruption, altered cell shape, and impaired wound healing. The study suggests that environmental aging of airborne microplastics may increase their potential to harm respiratory tissues.
Ultraviolet-induced photodegradation elevated the toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics on human lung epithelial A549 cells
Researchers found that UV-induced photodegradation significantly increased the toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics on human lung epithelial cells. The degraded nanoplastics caused greater cell death, stronger oxidative stress, more severe membrane damage, and intensive mitochondrial dysfunction compared to non-degraded particles, suggesting that weathered nanoplastics in the environment may pose greater health risks than pristine ones.
Uptake of Breathable Nano- and Micro-Sized Polystyrene Particles: Comparison of Virgin and Oxidised nPS/mPS in Human Alveolar Cells
Researchers compared uptake of virgin and oxidized polystyrene nano- and microparticles in human lung cells, finding that photoaged particles showed altered surface chemistry and different cellular internalization patterns relevant to realistic airborne microplastic exposure.
Effect of UV-exposure on size, morphology, and chemical structure of polystyrene nanospheres in suspension
Researchers investigated how UV exposure changes the size, morphology, and chemical structure of polystyrene nanospheres in suspension, simulating environmental weathering of nanoplastics. The study characterized how UV aging alters particle properties in ways relevant to their biological and environmental fate.
Effects of Atmospheric Aging on the Respiratory Toxicity of Polystyrene Nanoplastic Particles
Researchers exposed human bronchial epithelial cells to atmospherically aged polystyrene nanoplastics at an air-liquid interface, finding that oxidized particles significantly elevated inflammatory gene expression (IL-8, TNF-α, IL-6) compared to fresh particles, demonstrating that environmental aging enhances respiratory toxicity.