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Microplastics and CKD: Are we overlooking the role of ecotoxins
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This review argues that microplastics deserve greater consideration as a contributing factor to chronic kidney disease, synthesizing evidence that MPs can accumulate in renal tissue, trigger inflammation and oxidative stress, and may represent an underappreciated environmental driver of CKD.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a major global health burden with complex and multifactorial etiology. In recent years, increasing attention has been directed toward environmental pollutants, including microplastics (MPs), as potential contributors to renal injury. Microplastics, defined as plastic particles less than 5 mm in size, are omnipresent in the environment and have been detected in food, water, and even human biological samples. This review explores the physicochemical characteristics, toxicokinetics, and nephrotoxic potential of MPs, with a particular focus on data from in vivo studies. Evidence suggests that MPs, especially in nanoscale, can penetrate biological barriers, accumulate in renal tissue, and induce glomerular and tubular damage through mechanisms involving oxidative stress, inflammation, and epigenetic dysregulation. MPs should be considered emerging nephrotoxicants with possible relevance in the prevention and management of CKD.
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Effects of microplastics on the kidneys: a narrative review
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This review summarizes growing evidence that microplastics can accumulate in the kidneys, where they may trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular damage that could worsen kidney function. People with chronic kidney disease may be especially vulnerable because impaired kidney filtration could allow microplastics to build up more readily in their bodies.
Micro- and Nanoplastic Pollution and Renal Health: Human Evidence, Mechanisms, and Clinical Implications
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Tiny plastic particles have been found in human blood, urine, and even kidney tissue, and lab studies show they can stress kidney cells and potentially contribute to inflammation and scarring. This review pulls together what scientists currently know, but it's clear we still don't have solid proof that microplastics actually cause kidney disease in people, more research is needed, especially for those already dealing with kidney problems or dialysis, before we can say how worried to be.
The detrimental effects of microplastic exposure on kidney function
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This review explores the two-way relationship between kidney function and microplastic exposure, asking whether MPs can be cleared renally and whether kidney disease impairs their clearance. Evidence suggests MPs accumulate in kidney tissue and may contribute to disease progression, though clinical data remain limited.
Micro- and nanoplastics and the kidney: exposure pathways, toxicokinetics, and pathophysiological insights
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Tiny plastic particles from our air, water, and food—called micro- and nanoplastics—can enter our bodies and travel to the kidneys, where studies show they may cause cell damage, inflammation, and scarring over time. This review pulls together existing research on how these plastics get into our system and harm kidney tissue, suggesting that everyday plastic exposure could be an overlooked risk factor for kidney disease. More research is needed, but this is an early signal that reducing plastic exposure might matter for long-term kidney health.
Micro- and nanoplastics and the kidney: human evidence, clinical vulnerabilities, dialysis-related exposure, and CKD
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Tiny plastic particles have been found in human kidneys, blood, and urine, and this review pulls together existing research suggesting these particles—along with chemicals like BPA and PFAS often found in plastics—may be linked to kidney damage, high blood pressure, and chronic kidney disease. People on dialysis may face extra exposure because their blood repeatedly contacts plastic tubing and filters during treatment, making them an important group to study further. While the science is still developing, this research highlights why reducing plastic exposure and rethinking medical device materials could matter for protecting kidney health, especially in vulnerable patients.
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