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Papers
380 resultsDiscovery 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.
The impaired response of nasal epithelial cells to microplastic stimulation in asthma and COPD
Researchers exposed nasal lining cells from healthy people, asthma patients, and COPD patients to polyamide microplastic fibers and found that diseased airways responded very differently than healthy ones. Asthma cells showed changes in cholesterol metabolism and stress responses, while COPD cells showed altered immune cell movement and signaling. This suggests that people with existing respiratory conditions are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of inhaled microplastic fibers.
Size-dependent internalization of polystyrene microplastics as a key factor in macrophages and systemic toxicity
Researchers systematically tested how the size of polystyrene microplastics affects their uptake and toxicity in immune cells and mice. Smaller particles (0.5 micrometers) were taken up much more readily by immune cells and caused more damage, including mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death, compared to larger 5-micrometer particles. In living mice, smaller microplastics accumulated more in organs and caused broader changes in blood and metabolic markers, confirming that particle size is a key factor in microplastic toxicity.
Ultra-compact quintuple-band terahertz metamaterial biosensor for enhanced blood cancer diagnostics
Engineers designed an advanced terahertz-frequency biosensor that can distinguish between normal blood cells and cancerous blood cells with high sensitivity. While not directly about microplastics, this type of sensor technology could potentially be adapted to detect nanoplastic particles in blood samples, advancing our ability to measure human exposure to plastic pollution.
Microplastics bioaccumulation in fish: Its potential toxic effects on hematology, immune response, neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, growth, and reproductive dysfunction
This review finds that microplastics accumulate primarily in the guts and gills of fish before spreading to other tissues through the bloodstream, causing a cascade of harmful effects including blood changes, immune suppression, nerve damage, and reproductive problems. The severity of harm depends on the size and dose of particles and how long the fish are exposed, with implications for the safety of fish consumed by humans.
Neuromorphic-enabled video-activated cell sorting
Researchers developed a new high-speed cell sorting system using neuromorphic computing (brain-inspired chips) and event cameras that can sort 1,000 cells per second based on video analysis. While designed for biomedical cell sorting, this technology could be adapted to rapidly identify and separate microplastic particles from environmental and biological samples.
Microplastic particles in human blood and their association with coagulation markers
In a study of 36 healthy adults, microplastics were detected in the blood of 89% of participants, with polypropylene and polyethylene being the most common types found. Higher microplastic levels were associated with changes in blood clotting markers, suggesting that plastic particles in our bloodstream may affect how our blood coagulates, though larger studies are needed to confirm this link.
Microplastics dampen the self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells by disrupting the gut microbiota-hypoxanthine-Wnt axis
Researchers found that long-term microplastic intake in mice damaged the gut lining and disrupted gut bacteria, which reduced levels of a key molecule called hypoxanthine that blood-forming stem cells in the bone marrow need to renew themselves. In a study of human bone marrow transplant patients, higher microplastic levels in donors' blood correlated with worse survival outcomes, suggesting microplastic exposure could impair the blood and immune system.
Micro-nanoplastics and cardiovascular diseases: evidence and perspectives
Growing evidence suggests that micro- and nanoplastic particles may be a previously unrecognized risk factor for heart disease, as they have been detected in atherosclerotic plaques, heart tissue, and blood clots in humans. Lab studies show these particles can trigger oxidative stress, promote blood clotting, and cause inflammation in blood vessel cells, and their presence in artery plaques has been linked to higher rates of cardiovascular events.
Optimization of the Hemolysis Assay for the Assessment of Cytotoxicity
This study improved a common lab test used to measure how toxic chemicals and materials are to red blood cells. While not directly about microplastics, the hemolysis assay is one of the tools researchers use to evaluate whether micro- and nanoplastic particles damage blood cells, making standardized testing methods important for accurate health risk assessment.
Effects of micro- and nanoplastics on blood cells in vitro and cardiovascular parameters in vivo, considering their presence in the human bloodstream and potential impact on blood pressure
This review examines evidence that micro- and nanoplastics can enter the human bloodstream and interact with blood cells, with plastic particles already detected in human blood, blood clots, and artery plaques. While direct evidence linking microplastics to blood pressure changes in humans is still lacking, animal studies and the mechanisms identified -- including blood vessel damage and inflammation -- suggest cardiovascular effects are plausible.
Microplastics and nanoplastics co-exposure modulates chromium bioaccumulation and physiological responses in rats
Rats exposed to a mix of microplastics and nanoplastics along with hexavalent chromium, a toxic heavy metal, accumulated significantly more chromium in their liver, heart, brain, and skin than rats exposed to chromium alone. This shows that plastic particles can act as carriers that increase the amount of toxic metals absorbed by the body, potentially amplifying the health risks of metal pollution.
The risk factors, pathogenesis and treatment of premature ovarian insufficiency
This review summarizes how environmental toxins -- including microplastics, pesticides, heavy metals, and air pollution particles -- may contribute to premature ovarian insufficiency, a condition where the ovaries stop functioning normally in women under 40. The paper also outlines current treatment options and urges people to reduce their exposure to harmful environmental substances to protect reproductive health.
Tiny trouble: microplastics, nanoplastics, and their heartfelt impact on cardiovascular health
This review summarizes growing evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics have been found in human heart tissue, arterial plaques, and blood, and may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Lab studies show these particles can damage blood vessel walls, disrupt cholesterol processing, trigger inflammation, and promote blood clot formation, raising serious concerns about heart health.
Microplastics induce toxic effects in fish: Bioaccumulation, hematological parameters and antioxidant responses
Researchers exposed juvenile fish to polyamide microplastics and found the particles accumulated primarily in the intestine, gills, and liver, causing reduced blood oxygen-carrying capacity, liver stress, and disrupted antioxidant defenses. These findings matter because fish are an important food source for humans, and microplastic accumulation in fish tissues could transfer these contaminants to people through their diet.
International consensus guidelines for the definition, detection, and interpretation of autophagy-dependent ferroptosis
This scientific review provides guidelines for understanding a specific type of cell death called autophagy-dependent ferroptosis, where cells essentially digest their own protective components and then die from iron-driven damage. While not directly about microplastics, this process is relevant because microplastics and nanoplastics have been shown to trigger oxidative stress and iron-related cell damage in tissues. Understanding these cell death pathways helps researchers assess how plastic particle exposure could harm organs like the liver, brain, and lungs.
Toxic effects of microplastic (Polyethylene) on fish: Accumulation, hematological parameters and antioxidant responses in Korean Bullhead, Pseudobagrus fulvidraco
Korean bullhead fish exposed to polyethylene microplastics for just 96 hours showed significant toxic effects including microplastic buildup in the gut, gills, and liver. The fish developed blood abnormalities, liver stress, and disrupted antioxidant defenses, with effects worsening at higher concentrations. Since this species is a common freshwater fish, these findings raise concerns about microplastics affecting the health and safety of fish that people eat.
Biofloc Technology in Fish Aquaculture: A Review
This review examines biofloc technology, a method of fish farming that uses beneficial microbial communities to improve water quality and fish health. While not directly about microplastics, the technology is relevant because it could reduce the environmental footprint of aquaculture and potentially limit fish exposure to waterborne contaminants. Healthier aquaculture practices may help produce safer fish for human consumption in an era of increasing water pollution.
Physiological response of freshwater crayfish, Astacus leptodactylus exposed to polyethylene microplastics at different temperature
Freshwater crayfish exposed to polyethylene microplastics showed liver stress, disrupted blood chemistry, and weakened immune responses, with higher temperatures making the effects worse. The combination of microplastic exposure and warmer water caused greater damage to antioxidant defenses and enzyme activity than either stressor alone. As climate change raises water temperatures, aquatic organisms may become more vulnerable to microplastic toxicity, which could affect the safety of freshwater species consumed by humans.
Damage of polyethylene microplastics on the intestine multilayer barrier, blood cell immune function and the repair effect of Leuconostoc mesenteroides DH in the large-scale loach (Paramisgurnus dabryanus)
Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics damage the intestinal lining of loach fish, allowing plastic particles to break through the gut barrier and enter the bloodstream, where they caused blood cell death. Adding a probiotic bacterium (Leuconostoc mesenteroides) to the fish's diet significantly repaired the intestinal damage and improved immune function. This suggests that probiotics may help counteract some of the gut damage caused by microplastic exposure.
Hematological and Hematopoietic Analysis in Fish Toxicology—A Review
This review summarizes how blood analysis in fish is used to detect the toxic effects of environmental pollutants, including microplastics and heavy metals. Changes in red and white blood cell counts, along with shifts in blood-forming tissue, can reveal early signs of pollutant damage before visible symptoms appear. Since fish are often used as indicator species for water quality, these blood markers can help scientists understand how pollutants in aquatic environments may eventually affect human health through the food chain.
Chronic exposure to polystyrene microplastics triggers osteoporosis by breaking the balance of osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation
Mice that drank water containing polystyrene microplastics for six months developed significant bone loss resembling osteoporosis, with weakened bone structure and reduced bone formation. The microplastics triggered inflammation in bone stem cells and disrupted the balance between bone-building and bone-breaking processes, suggesting that long-term microplastic exposure could contribute to bone disease.
Systematic toxicity evaluation of polystyrene nanoplastics on mice and molecular mechanism investigation about their internalization into Caco-2 cells
Researchers fed mice polystyrene nanoplastics (about 100 nm) for 28 days and found the particles accumulated in multiple organs including the spleen, lungs, kidneys, intestines, testes, and brain. The nanoplastics caused cell death, inflammation, and tissue damage in these organs, as well as disrupted fat metabolism and blood cell counts. This study demonstrates that ingested nanoplastics can spread throughout the body and cause widespread harm, raising concerns about long-term human exposure.
Toxic effects on bioaccumulation, hematological parameters, oxidative stress, immune responses and neurotoxicity in fish exposed to microplastics: A review
This review summarizes how microplastics affect fish health, covering toxic effects on blood, immune system, nervous system, and the buildup of plastics in fish tissues. Microplastics that accumulate in fish can trigger oxidative damage, weaken immune responses, and impair brain-related enzyme activity. Since fish are a major protein source for humans, understanding how microplastics harm fish health is directly relevant to the safety of our food supply.