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Molecular Basis by Which PVC Nanoplastics Elicit Neurotoxic Outcomes
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Researchers investigated the molecular mechanisms by which PVC nanoplastics may cause neurotoxic effects, finding that the particles disrupted protein structure and impaired vitamin A binding, which is important for neurological development. In a worm model, PVC nanoplastic exposure destroyed dopamine-producing neurons and compromised movement in a manner similar to the known neurotoxin paraquat. The study provides molecular-level evidence that PVC nanoplastics may initiate neurotoxic outcomes through multiple pathways.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) nanoplastics (NPs) exposure in humans is neurotoxic. To underscore the possible mechanisms by which PVC NPs provoke neurotoxic outcomes, we have explored the interfacial interactions between PVC NPs and biological assemblies. Our results reveal that exposure to PVC NPs induces dose-dependent alterations in the spectroscopic signatures (UV-vis, fluorescence, and IR) of the model globular protein β-lactoglobulin (BLG). The nanoplastics-driven perturbations in BLG secondary and tertiary structure were accompanied by compromised retinol (Vitamin A) binding (necessary for neurological development). Furthermore, in the amyloidogenic model hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL), PVC NPs exacerbated its rate of fibril formation. Exposure of PVC NPs to Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) resulted in the ablation of dopaminergic (DA) neurons and compromised locomotion in a manner akin to that elicited by the neurotoxin paraquat. Collectively, the findings provide molecular- and systems-level evidence of the seqelae by which PVC NPs may initiate neurotoxic outcomes. The results may drive the development of more biocompatible NPs and shape public policy.
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Microplastics, neurotoxicity, and food safety: risk assessment of plastic materials in contact with food
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This thesis investigated the neurotoxic risk of PVC-derived nano- and microplastics from food contact materials, using particle characterization, physiologically based kinetic modeling, and pharmacological pathway analysis. Predicted brain concentrations at realistic dietary exposure levels approached thresholds associated with neurological effects.
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Researchers compared the toxicity of four nanoplastic polymer types in a freshwater protozoan model and found that polymer chemistry — not just intracellular dose — governs toxic potential, with PVC producing the strongest cellular damage while polystyrene, the most widely studied polymer, was actually the least potent.
Neurotoxicity induced by aged microplastics from plastic bowls: Abnormal neurotransmission in Caenorhabditis elegans
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Researchers found that microplastics released from aged plastic bowls caused nerve damage in the roundworm C. elegans at environmentally realistic concentrations. The aged microplastics disrupted neurotransmitter systems including dopamine and serotonin, leading to impaired movement. This study is concerning because it shows that everyday plastic items we use for food can release microplastics that have neurotoxic effects.
The Effects of Nanoplastics on the Dopamine System of Cerebrocortical Neurons
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Researchers studied how nanoplastics affect the dopamine system in brain neurons grown in the lab. They found that nanoplastics accumulated inside neurons in a dose-dependent manner and altered the levels of proteins involved in dopamine signaling. These results suggest that nanoplastic exposure could potentially interfere with brain chemistry, though more research is needed to understand what this means for human health.
Ecological fitness impairments induced by chronic exposure to polyvinyl chloride nanospheres in Daphnia magna
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Researchers exposed the freshwater organism Daphnia magna to environmentally relevant concentrations of polyvinyl chloride and polystyrene nanoplastics over 21 days. They found that PVC nanoplastics caused greater impairments to growth, reproduction, and overall ecological fitness compared to polystyrene particles of similar size. The study suggests that the chemical composition of nanoplastics, not just their size, plays a significant role in determining their toxicity to aquatic organisms.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.