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253 resultsAged Biodegradable Nanoplastics Enhance Body Accumulation Associated with Worse Neuronal Damage in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>
Scientists studied how UV-aged biodegradable nanoplastics from common biodegradable plastics (PBS and PBAT) affect tiny worms used as a model organism. They found that after sun exposure, these nanoplastics became smaller and accumulated more in the worms' bodies, causing worse nerve damage than fresh particles. This suggests that as biodegradable plastics break down in the environment, they may actually become more harmful to nervous systems over time.
Effects of pristine microplastics and nanoplastics on soil invertebrates: A systematic review and meta-analysis of available data
About 49% of 1,061 biological endpoints were significantly affected by pristine micro- and nanoplastics across 56 studies on soil invertebrates, with polymers containing chloro and phenyl groups causing the most harm; concentrations above 1 g/kg in soil decreased earthworm growth and survival.
Comparison of reproductive toxicity between pristine and aged polylactic acid microplastics in Caenorhabditis elegans
This study compared the effects of new versus UV-aged biodegradable PLA microplastics on reproductive health using a worm model, finding that aged particles caused significantly more reproductive damage and DNA injury. The results suggest that biodegradable plastics become more toxic as they weather in the environment, which matters because these aged particles are what organisms, including humans, are most likely to encounter.
A systematic review on the impact of micro-nanoplastics on human health: Potential modulation of epigenetic mechanisms and identification of biomarkers
This systematic review found that micro-nanoplastic exposure can trigger epigenetic modifications including chromatin remodeling and miRNA modulation, with potential effects on the KSR-ERK-MAPK, FOXO-Insulin, and GPX3-HIF-alpha pathways in humans. These epigenetic changes could disrupt glucose balance, apoptosis, cell proliferation, and immune function, and may be heritable through mitosis, raising concerns about transgenerational health effects.
Photo-aged polylactic acid microplastics causes severe transgenerational decline in reproductive capacity in C. elegans: Insight into activation of DNA damage checkpoints affected by multiple germline histone methyltransferases
Researchers found that even supposedly biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, after being aged by sunlight, caused severe reproductive decline in worms that persisted across multiple generations. This is concerning because PLA is widely marketed as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastic, yet these results suggest that sunlight-degraded PLA particles may pose long-lasting biological harm through changes in gene regulation.
Generation of environmentally persistent free radicals on photoaged tire wear particles and their neurotoxic effects on neurotransmission in Caenorhabditis elegans
Tire wear particles, a common type of microplastic found on roads and in waterways, become more toxic after exposure to sunlight. This study found that sunlight-aged tire particles generate persistent free radicals that damaged the nervous system of test organisms, reducing movement and lowering levels of key brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. These findings suggest that weathered tire particles may pose a greater neurotoxic risk than fresh ones.
Photoaged Nanopolystyrene Affects Neurotransmission to Induce Transgenerational Neurotoxicity in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>
When tiny roundworms were exposed to sunlight-aged nanoplastics, their offspring showed movement problems and damaged nerve cells for up to two generations, even without further exposure. The aged nanoplastics were more harmful than fresh ones and worked by disrupting key brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, suggesting that weathered plastic particles in the environment may pose greater risks to nervous system health across generations.
Transgenerational Response of Germline Nuclear Hormone Receptor Genes to Nanoplastics at Predicted Environmental Doses in Caenorhabditis elegans
Exposure to very low doses of polystyrene nanoplastics in roundworms caused reproductive and developmental problems that persisted across multiple generations through changes in nuclear hormone receptor genes. These receptors control important signaling pathways, and their disruption altered the expression of insulin and other growth signals in offspring that were never directly exposed to nanoplastics. This demonstrates that nanoplastic effects can be inherited through epigenetic mechanisms even at doses found in the environment.
Polylactic acid microplastics cause transgenerational reproductive toxicity associated with activation of insulin and hedgehog ligands in C. elegans
Exposure to polylactic acid microplastics -- a supposedly biodegradable plastic -- caused reproductive damage in tiny roundworms that persisted across multiple generations even after the initial exposure ended. The microplastics triggered a chain of genetic changes involving cell death pathways and epigenetic modifications (changes to how genes are read rather than the DNA itself). This transgenerational effect raises concerns that even "green" plastics could have lasting biological consequences.
Comparison of Transgenerational Neurotoxicity between Pristine and Amino-Modified Nanoplastics in C. elegans
Using tiny roundworms as a model, researchers found that chemically modified nanoplastics caused more severe nerve damage than unmodified ones -- and this damage was passed down to future generations even at very low doses. The study identified specific genetic pathways responsible for this inherited toxicity, raising concerns about how surface-modified nanoplastics in the environment could have long-lasting effects on nervous system health across generations.
Nanoplastics exacerbate Parkinson's disease symptoms in C. elegans and human cells
Researchers discovered that tiny 25-nanometer plastic particles worsened symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease in both worm models and human cells, including nerve cell death, movement problems, and buildup of harmful protein clumps. The nanoplastics also damaged the intestinal barrier, causing a "leaky gut" condition, and broke apart mitochondria in muscle cells. These findings suggest nanoplastic exposure could be a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases.
Effect of disruption in the intestinal barrier function during the transgenerational process on nanoplastic toxicity induction in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>
This study found that nanoplastics can cause toxic effects that pass from parents to offspring across generations in tiny roundworms. The damage was linked to disruption of the intestinal barrier, which normally protects against harmful substances. These findings raise concerns that nanoplastic exposure could have long-lasting health effects beyond a single generation.
Behavioral and molecular neurotoxicity of thermally degraded polystyrene in Caenorhabditis elegans
This study found that thermally degraded polystyrene, the kind created when plastic is burned or heated, was significantly more toxic to the nervous system than fresh polystyrene in laboratory worms. The heat-altered plastic caused damage to multiple types of neurons and reduced levels of key brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. This is concerning because burned or heated plastic waste is common in the environment, and these findings suggest it may pose greater neurological risks than previously recognized.
The impact of microplastic on nematodes: Soil type, plastic amount and aging as determinants for the fitness of Caenorhabditis elegans
Researchers tested how two types of microplastics, conventional polyethylene and biodegradable PLA/PBAT, affected tiny soil worms called nematodes across different soil types. Conventional plastic at high concentrations reduced worm reproduction and growth, while the biodegradable plastic caused no harm. Importantly, as microplastics aged in the soil over time, their negative effects worsened, suggesting the long-term impact of plastic pollution in agricultural soil may be greater than short-term studies indicate.
Weizmannia coagulans BC99 Attenuates Oxidative Stress Induced by Acute Alcoholic Liver Injury via Nrf2/SKN-1 Pathway and Liver Metabolism Regulation
This study found that the probiotic Weizmannia coagulans BC99 protected against alcohol-induced liver damage by activating antioxidant pathways and reducing harmful reactive oxygen species. While focused on alcohol injury rather than microplastics, the research is relevant because microplastic exposure causes similar oxidative stress in the liver. Probiotics that strengthen antioxidant defenses could potentially help counteract some of the cellular damage caused by microplastic exposure.
Polystyrene nanoplastics at predicted environmental concentrations enhance the toxicity of copper on Caenorhabditis elegans
Even at low concentrations found in the environment, polystyrene nanoplastics significantly increased copper toxicity in roundworms by boosting oxidative stress and triggering stress-response genes. The nanoplastics alone did not cause obvious harm, but when combined with copper, the damage was much worse than copper alone. This is concerning because in real-world soil and water, nanoplastics and heavy metals often occur together, potentially creating greater health risks than either pollutant individually.
The generation of environmentally persistent free radicals on photoaged microbeads from cosmetics enhances the toxicity via oxidative stress
Researchers studied how sunlight aging affects microbeads from cosmetics and their potential toxicity. They found that UV exposure generates persistent free radicals on the plastic surface, which significantly increased harmful effects on the roundworm C. elegans, including reduced reproduction and elevated oxidative stress. The findings suggest that weathered microplastics from personal care products may be considerably more toxic than their freshly manufactured counterparts.
Microplastic particles cause intestinal damage and other adverse effects in zebrafish Danio rerio and nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
Researchers exposed zebrafish and nematodes to five common types of microplastics and found that several types caused intestinal damage, including cracking of the gut lining. In nematodes, microplastics significantly reduced survival, body length, and reproduction, with 1-micrometer particles causing the most severe effects. The findings suggest that intestinal damage and oxidative stress are primary mechanisms through which microplastics harm aquatic organisms.
Polyethylene nanoplastics cause reproductive toxicity associated with activation of both estrogenic hormone receptor NHR-14 and DNA damage checkpoints in C. elegans
Researchers found that polyethylene nanoplastics caused reproductive damage in the roundworm C. elegans by activating a hormone receptor and DNA damage pathways, leading to fewer offspring and increased cell death in reproductive tissues. Importantly, the damage was caused by the plastic particles themselves, not by chemicals leaching from them. Since polyethylene is the most common plastic in everyday products, these findings raise concerns about how nanoplastic exposure could affect reproductive health.
PD-like pathogenesis induced by intestinal exposure to microplastics: An in vivo study of animal models to a public health survey
Researchers found that even low-dose microplastic exposure in mice and worm models accelerated the degeneration of dopamine-producing brain cells and caused movement disorders similar to Parkinson's disease. The microplastics triggered damage through the gut barrier and immune system, causing brain inflammation even without directly entering the brain. A companion public health survey also linked frequent use of disposable plastic tableware to intestinal inflammatory symptoms in people.
Leachates from plastics and bioplastics reduce lifespan, decrease locomotion, and induce neurotoxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans
Scientists tested chemicals that leach out of both conventional plastics and biodegradable bioplastics on roundworms, finding that both types reduced lifespan, impaired movement, and caused nerve damage. Surprisingly, bioplastics leached a wider range of chemicals and shortened lifespan more than conventional plastics. This challenges the assumption that bioplastics are always a safer alternative, since they may release harmful substances as they break down.
Photoaged microplastics induce neurotoxicity associated with damage to serotonergic, glutamatergic, dopaminergic, and GABAergic neuronal systems in Caenorhabditis elegans
Researchers found that sunlight-aged microplastics caused more severe brain and nerve damage than fresh microplastics in lab worms, disrupting four major neurotransmitter systems: serotonin, glutamate, dopamine, and GABA. Even at very low, environmentally realistic concentrations, the aged particles impaired movement and altered gene expression related to nerve signaling. Since most microplastics in the real world have been weathered by sunlight, this study suggests that the neurotoxic risks of environmental microplastic exposure may be greater than studies using pristine particles indicate.
Neurotoxicity induced by aged microplastics from plastic bowls: Abnormal neurotransmission in Caenorhabditis elegans
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.
Photoaged Polystyrene Nanoplastics Result in Transgenerational Reproductive Toxicity Associated with the Methylation of Histone H3K4 and H3K9 in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>
When roundworms were exposed to sun-aged polystyrene nanoplastics at environmentally relevant levels, the reproductive damage passed down to unexposed future generations through changes in gene-regulating chemical marks called histone methylation. Sun-aged nanoplastics caused more severe fertility problems than fresh ones, and these effects persisted for two generations after exposure stopped. This study is alarming because it shows nanoplastic exposure could cause hereditary reproductive harm without changing DNA itself.