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Papers
2,056 resultsA systematic review of the impacts of exposure to micro- and nano-plastics on human tissue accumulation and health
This systematic review found growing evidence that micro- and nanoplastics accumulate in human tissues including lungs, gut, and blood, with lab studies showing potential disruption to immune, reproductive, endocrine, and nervous systems. The review identifies ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact as the three main exposure routes and highlights that the smallest nanoplastic particles pose the greatest concern due to their ability to cross biological barriers.
Effects of Microplastic Exposure on Human Digestive, Reproductive, and Respiratory Health: A Rapid Systematic Review
This systematic review examined studies on how microplastic exposure affects human digestive, reproductive, and respiratory health. Early evidence suggests links to gut inflammation, reproductive issues, and lung irritation, though the review notes that more high-quality human studies are urgently needed.
An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses Evaluating Associations between Human Health and Exposure to Major Classes of Plastic-Associated Chemicals
This umbrella review — a review of existing meta-analyses — assessed the health effects of chemicals found in plastics, including BPA, phthalates, and PFAS. The evidence links these plastic-associated chemicals to hormonal disruption, reproductive problems, metabolic issues, and increased cancer risk across many studies.
Bioaccumulation of microplastics in decedent human brains
Researchers found microplastics in human brain, liver, and kidney tissue samples, with plastic levels significantly higher in samples from 2024 compared to 2016. The brain contained especially high levels of polyethylene, and brains from people with dementia had even more plastic accumulation. These findings suggest that microplastics are building up in human organs over time, raising urgent questions about potential health effects.
Assessing the Efficacy of Pyrolysis–Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry for Nanoplastic and Microplastic Analysis in Human Blood
Researchers tested whether a common lab technique (pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) can reliably measure nanoplastics in human blood. They found that realistic detection limits were up to 20 times higher than ideal conditions suggest, and certain common plastics like polyethylene produced false readings due to interference from blood components. The study concludes that better analytical methods are needed before we can accurately measure plastic levels in human blood.
Health impacts of microplastic and nanoplastic exposure
This review examines the growing evidence that micro- and nanoplastics can cross barriers in the lungs and gut, enter the bloodstream, and reach organs like the brain, placenta, and reproductive system. Early clinical studies suggest links to immune changes, heart problems, and reproductive effects, though more research is needed. Better methods for measuring plastic exposure in humans are critical to understanding the true health risks.
Microplastics in human skeletal tissues: Presence, distribution and health implications
This study is the first to find microplastics in human bones, cartilage, and spinal discs, with the highest concentrations found in spinal discs. The most common plastics detected were polypropylene and polystyrene, and animal experiments confirmed that microplastics can reach skeletal tissues through the bloodstream. Exposure triggered inflammatory markers in the blood, suggesting microplastics in bones could contribute to skeletal health problems.
Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Humans: Distribution, Exposure, and Toxicological Effects
This meta-analysis tracked the rapid growth of research on microplastics and human health, finding a shift from studying environmental pollution toward understanding direct human exposure and health effects. Emerging concerns include reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, and immune system disruption from microplastic exposure.
A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials: evaluating the efficacy of isokinetic muscle strengthening training in improving knee osteoarthritis outcomes
Despite its title referencing randomized controlled trials, this meta-analysis focuses on isokinetic muscle strengthening training for knee osteoarthritis — not microplastic research. It found that isokinetic training improves muscle strength and relieves joint pain and stiffness in knee osteoarthritis patients.
Micro- and nano-plastics in the atmosphere: A review of occurrence, properties and human health risks
This review summarizes research on tiny plastic particles floating in the air we breathe, both indoors and outdoors. Studies show that inhaling these airborne microplastics and nanoplastics can trigger immune responses, oxidative stress, and cell death, potentially contributing to cardiovascular disease and reproductive problems, though standardized testing methods are still needed.
Discovery and analysis of microplastics in human bone marrow
For the first time, researchers detected microplastics in human bone marrow, finding plastic particles in all 16 samples tested. The most common types were polyethylene and polystyrene, with about 90% of particles smaller than 100 micrometers. This discovery shows that microplastics can penetrate deep into the body and reach the tissue where blood cells are made, raising questions about potential effects on blood cell production and immune function.
Microplastic diagnostics in humans: “The 3Ps” Progress, problems, and prospects
Microplastics have now been detected in a wide range of human biological samples including blood, liver, lung, placenta, kidney, spleen, sputum, and feces using advanced analytical methods. This first systematic review of human microplastic diagnostics revealed that contamination control procedures remain inconsistent across studies, complicating cross-study comparison of exposure levels.
Microplastics in the human body: A comprehensive review of exposure, distribution, migration mechanisms, and toxicity
This comprehensive review pulls together research on how microplastics enter the human body through food, air, and skin contact, and where they accumulate in organs and tissues. The review discusses how particle size determines whether microplastics can cross biological barriers like the gut lining and blood-brain barrier. The authors conclude that microplastics pose significant health risks and call for more research into their long-term effects.
The plastic health map: A systematic evidence map of human health studies on plastic-associated chemicals
This systematic evidence map of over 3,500 human health studies found that while some plastic-associated chemicals like BPA and phthalates have been extensively studied, the vast majority of chemicals used in plastics have never been investigated for human health effects. The map reveals critical knowledge gaps in our understanding of how the thousands of chemicals in plastic products may affect human health.
Causal relationship between gut microbiota and gastrointestinal diseases: a mendelian randomization study
This Mendelian randomization study found genetic evidence supporting a causal relationship between specific gut microbiota compositions and gastrointestinal diseases. The findings suggest that microbiome-related interventions, including microbiome-dependent metabolites, could potentially be developed to treat or manage gastrointestinal conditions.
A systematic review and quality assessment of estimated daily intake of microplastics through food
This systematic review assessed how much microplastic people consume through food daily. While estimates vary widely due to differences in study methods, the evidence confirms that humans regularly ingest microplastics through seafood, water, salt, and other common foods.
Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses
This umbrella review of epidemiological studies examines the health effects of ultra-processed foods, which are a significant source of human microplastic exposure due to plastic packaging. Ultra-processed foods have been linked to a wide range of adverse health outcomes in population studies. The connection between processed food packaging and microplastic contamination adds another dimension to why reducing ultra-processed food consumption may benefit health.
Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events
This landmark clinical study found that patients with micro- and nanoplastics detected in their carotid artery plaque had a significantly higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or death over a 34-month follow-up period compared to those without detectable plastics. This is one of the first studies to directly link microplastic presence in human blood vessels to worse cardiovascular outcomes. The findings suggest that plastic accumulation in arteries may be an important and previously unrecognized risk factor for heart disease.
The triple exposure nexus of microplastic particles, plastic-associated chemicals, and environmental pollutants from a human health perspective
This review introduces the idea of a "triple exposure" from microplastics: the physical plastic particles themselves, the chemicals built into the plastic during manufacturing, and environmental pollutants that stick to plastic surfaces. All three exposure types can enter the human body through food, water, and air, and may have combined health effects that are worse than any single exposure alone. The authors argue that health risk assessments need to account for all three factors together.
Microplastics in human blood: Polymer types, concentrations and characterisation using μFTIR
Scientists analyzed blood from 20 healthy volunteers and found microplastics in 90% of samples, identifying 24 different plastic types including many reported for the first time in blood. The particles were mostly small fragments averaging about 128 micrometers long, and the study also detected hormone-disrupting chemicals called phthalates attached to the plastics. This adds to growing evidence that a wide variety of plastic particles are circulating in human blood.
Mapping Microplastics in Humans: Analysis of Polymer Types, and Shapes in Food and Drinking Water—A Systematic Review
This systematic review mapped the types and shapes of microplastics found in food, drinking water, and human tissue samples. Polyethylene and polypropylene — common in food packaging — were the most frequently detected plastics, and fiber-shaped particles were especially prevalent in human samples.
Polystyrene Nanoplastics Activate Autophagy and Suppress Trophoblast Cell Migration/Invasion and Migrasome Formation to Induce Miscarriage
In mouse and cell studies, polystyrene nanoplastics at doses near real-world human exposure levels caused miscarriage by blocking the movement of placental cells needed for a healthy pregnancy. The nanoplastics triggered a cellular recycling process called autophagy that broke down key proteins required for placental cell migration and invasion.
Features, Potential Invasion Pathways, and Reproductive Health Risks of Microplastics Detected in Human Uterus
Researchers found microplastics in the uterine lining of 22 women, identifying common plastics like polyamide, polyurethane, and PET in sizes ranging from 2 to 200 micrometers. In mouse experiments, microplastic exposure led to reduced fertility, abnormal offspring sex ratios, and significant uterine inflammation. These findings raise serious concerns about the potential impact of microplastic contamination on female reproductive health and pregnancy outcomes.
Novel Therapeutic Strategies in Alzheimer’s Disease: Pitfalls and Challenges of Anti-Amyloid Therapies and Beyond
This review examines why clinical trials targeting amyloid-beta for Alzheimer's disease have largely failed, and explores emerging alternatives including tau-targeted therapies, neuroinflammation modulation, and gene therapy. The study is not directly related to microplastic research.