0
Article Tier 2 Sign in to save

Lung retention, distribution and persistence of polymer particles in rats exposed via inhalation.

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers exposed rats to polymer particles via inhalation and tracked lung retention, tissue distribution, and persistence over time using refined sample preparation methods. Results showed that nano-sized particles had distinct bioavailability and long-term retention patterns compared to larger particles, highlighting the importance of particle size in inhalation risk assessment.

BACKGROUND: Microplastics have been repeatedly detected in the human body, yet uncertainties surround their bioavailability and fate due to experimental challenges and limitations, especially regarding their nano-sized counterparts. Knowing that toxicokinetics information is essential for accurate risk assessment and management, this research aimed to (1) evaluate different sample preparation and quantification methods for nanoplastics particles in mammalian tissue, and (2) investigate the lung retention, bioavailability and fate of these particles. METHODS: In this study, rats inhaled aerosols with up to 50 mg/m of Nile Red-labeled polystyrene (PS-NR) or unlabeled polyamide particles (PA-6) particles for 28 days. The tissues were analyzed for the presence of polymer particles. PS-NR were quantified in formalin-fixed tissue by confocal fluorescence laser microscopy with semi-automatic imaging analysis, and PA-6 particles were quantified in dried tissues by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). RESULTS: PA-6 deposition was detected and quantified in lung and lymph nodes. Deposition of PS-NR was quantified in lungs and lung-draining lymph nodes, but no particles were detected in the liver, spleen, and kidneys. The lung burdens and translocation to the draining lymph nodes were similar for both particles, and particles were still detectable after the end of the exposure periods (five weeks for PS-NR and 13 weeks for PA-6). CONCLUSIONS: This work highlights limitations and applicability of the various methods for sample preparation, detecting and quantifying polymer particles in mammalian tissues. In addition, it provides reliable data on the internal dose of inhaled polymer particles.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Lung retention, distribution and persistence of polymer particles in rats exposed via inhalation

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers studied the fate of inhaled polymer particles in rats by exposing them to polystyrene and polyamide aerosols for 28 days. The study found that both types of particles accumulated in the lungs and migrated to lung-draining lymph nodes, but were not detected in the liver, spleen, or kidneys. The particles persisted in lung tissue for weeks after exposure ended, raising questions about the long-term bioavailability and fate of inhaled microplastics.

Article Tier 2

Lung retention, distribution and persistence of polymer particles in rats exposed via inhalation

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers studied the fate of inhaled polymer particles in rats by exposing them to polystyrene and polyamide aerosols for 28 days. The study found that both types of particles accumulated in the lungs and migrated to lung-draining lymph nodes, but were not detected in the liver, spleen, or kidneys. The particles persisted in lung tissue for weeks after exposure ended, highlighting potential concerns about long-term retention of inhaled microplastics.

Article Tier 2

Lung retention, distribution and persistence of polymer particles in rats exposed via inhalation

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers studied the fate of inhaled polymer particles in rats by exposing them to polystyrene and polyamide aerosols for 28 days. The study found that both particle types deposited in the lungs and translocated to lung-draining lymph nodes, but were not detected in the liver, spleen, or kidneys. Particles remained detectable weeks after exposure ended, underscoring the persistence of inhaled plastic particles in respiratory tissue.

Article Tier 2

Methodology, characterization, and multiple-path particle dosimetry modeling of laboratory inhalation exposure for micro-nanoplastic particles in rodents

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers developed and characterized a standardized methodology for exposing rodents to inhaled micro- and nanoplastic particles at concentrations representative of environmental and occupational settings. The study used polyamide-12 particles and computational modeling to estimate respiratory deposition patterns in both rats and humans, providing a validated framework for future inhalation toxicology studies on plastic particles.

Article Tier 2

Size-Dependent PulmonaryToxicity and Whole-Body Distributionof Inhaled Micro/Nanoplastic Particles in Male Mice from Chronic Exposure

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers used a whole-body inhalation exposure system to chronically expose male mice to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics at environmental concentrations and tracked particle distribution and lung toxicity. Nanoplastics (80 nm) showed greater tissue transport than microplastics (1 µm), with highest accumulation in lungs followed by blood and spleen, and both sizes disrupted oxidative balance and antioxidant defenses.

Research digests by email

When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.

Email me about

Share this paper