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Tier 2
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Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence.
Gut & Microbiome
Human Health Effects
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Oral exposure to polyethylene microplastics alters gut morphology, immune response, and microbiota composition in mice
Environmental Research2022
110 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 60
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Madjid Djouina,
Madjid Djouina,
Madjid Djouina,
Madjid Djouina,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Nell Hirt,
Guillaume Duflos,
Madjid Djouina,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Madjid Djouina,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Christophe Waxin,
Christophe Waxin,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Mathilde Body–Malapel
Charlotte Himber,
Charlotte Himber,
Charlotte Himber,
Cécile Vignal,
Guillaume Duflos,
Guillaume Duflos,
Charlotte Himber,
Charlotte Himber,
Charlotte Himber,
Charlotte Himber,
Laurent Dubuquoy,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Christophe Waxin,
Christophe Waxin,
Ségolène Caboche,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Charlotte Himber,
Mathilde Body–Malapel
Alexandre Dehaut,
Guillaume Duflos,
Guillaume Duflos,
Guillaume Duflos,
Guillaume Duflos,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Charlotte Himber,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Guillaume Duflos,
Charlotte Himber,
Guillaume Duflos,
Charlotte Himber,
Ségolène Caboche,
David Launay,
Charlotte Himber,
Guillaume Duflos,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Charlotte Himber,
Charlotte Himber,
Charlotte Himber,
Charlotte Himber,
Charlotte Himber,
Cécile Vignal,
Charlotte Himber,
Guillaume Duflos,
Guillaume Duflos,
Guillaume Duflos,
Guillaume Duflos,
Nell Hirt,
Guillaume Duflos,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Mathilde Body–Malapel
Alexandre Dehaut,
Guillaume Duflos,
Charlotte Himber,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Guillaume Duflos,
Christophe Waxin,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Charlotte Himber,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Ségolène Caboche,
Guillaume Duflos,
Charlotte Himber,
Guillaume Duflos,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Charlotte Himber,
Delphine Beury,
Guillaume Duflos,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Delphine Beury,
David Hot,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Delphine Beury,
Cécile Vignal,
David Hot,
Guillaume Duflos,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Guillaume Duflos,
Alexandre Dehaut,
David Launay,
Laurent Dubuquoy,
Laurent Dubuquoy,
David Hot,
Guillaume Duflos,
Guillaume Duflos,
Laurent Dubuquoy,
David Launay,
Guillaume Duflos,
Guillaume Duflos,
Alexandre Dehaut,
Guillaume Duflos,
Guillaume Duflos,
Mathilde Body–Malapel
Guillaume Duflos,
Laurent Dubuquoy,
Mathilde Body–Malapel
Mathilde Body–Malapel
Guillaume Duflos,
Guillaume Duflos,
David Launay,
Guillaume Duflos,
Cécile Vignal,
Mathilde Body–Malapel
Summary
Researchers fed mice polyethylene microplastics of two sizes commonly found in human stool for six weeks and examined the effects on gut health. The study found that microplastic exposure altered gut structure, disrupted immune cell function, changed gene expression related to inflammation and gut barrier integrity, and shifted the composition of gut bacteria. Mice exposed to both sizes simultaneously showed the most severe effects, suggesting that real-world exposure to mixed microplastic sizes may compound the damage.
The ubiquitous and growing presence of microplastics (MPs) in all compartments of the environment raises concerns about their possible harmful effects on human health. Human exposure to MPs occurs largely through ingestion. Polyethylene (PE) is widely employed for reusable bags and food packaging and found to be present in drinking water and food. It is also one of the major polymers detected in human stool. The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of intestinal exposure to PE MPs on gut homeostasis. Mice were orally exposed for 6 weeks to PE microbeads of 2 different sizes, 36 and 116 μm, that correspond to those found in human stool. They were administrated either individually or as a mixture at a dose of 100 μg/g of food. Both PE microbead sizes were detected in mouse stool. Different parameters related to major intestinal functions were compared between control mice, mice exposed to each type of microbead, or co-exposed to the 2 types of microbeads. Intestinal disturbances were observed after individual exposure to each size of PE microbead, and the most marked deleterious effects were found in co-exposed mice. At the histomorphological level, crypt depth was increased throughout the intestinal tissues. Significant variations of gene expression related to epithelial, permeability, and inflammatory biomarkers were quantified. Defective recruitment of some intestinal immune cells was observed from the proximal portion of the small intestine to the colon. Several bacterial taxa at the order level were found to be affected by exposure to the MPs by metagenomic analysis of cecal microbiota. These results show that ingestion of PE microbeads induces significant alterations of crucial intestinal markers in mice and underscores the need to further study the health impact of MP exposure in humans.