We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
765 resultsMicroplastics 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.
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.
Exploring the ecotoxicological impacts of microplastics on freshwater fish: A critical review
This review examines how microplastics affect freshwater fish, which often mistake the tiny particles for food. Once ingested, microplastics do not stay in the gut -- they enter the bloodstream and spread to the gills, liver, brain, heart, and reproductive organs, causing hormonal, immune, neurological, and reproductive problems. Because microplastics build up in the food chain, the contamination of fish has broader implications for other animals and for people who eat freshwater fish.
Microplastic exposure induces HSP90α secretion and aggravates asthmatic airway remodeling via PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway
Researchers discovered that microplastic exposure worsens asthma by damaging the airway lining and triggering the release of a stress protein called HSP90-alpha. This protein activates a signaling pathway (PI3K-Akt-mTOR) that causes airway smooth muscle cells to multiply, leading to narrower airways and increased sensitivity -- hallmarks of severe asthma. A targeted antibody that blocks HSP90 was able to reverse the lung inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in the study.
Rapid egestion of microplastics in juvenile barramundi: No evidence of gut retention or tissue translocation
This study found that juvenile barramundi fish rapidly egest (pass) microplastics through their digestive system with no evidence of the particles moving into surrounding tissues. The results suggest that for larger microplastic particles, the gut may act as an effective barrier in fish, though this does not eliminate concerns about smaller nanoplastics or chemical leaching.
A systematic review of the effects of nanoplastics on fish
This systematic review examines how nanoplastics (extremely small plastic particles) affect fish, including their ability to cross biological barriers and accumulate in tissues. The findings are relevant to human health because fish are a major dietary protein source, and understanding how plastics move through aquatic food chains helps us assess our own exposure risks.
Clear Aligner Treatment: Indications, Advantages, and Adverse Effects—A Systematic Review
This systematic review of clear aligner orthodontic treatment identified microplastics release as a potential adverse health effect, alongside decreased condyle bone volume. While clear aligners offer oral hygiene advantages over fixed braces, they remain inferior for complex tooth movements, and the microplastic exposure risk from wearing plastic aligners warrants further investigation.
Graphene Oxide (GO) for the Treatment of Bone Cancer: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis
This systematic review found a strong trend toward using graphene oxide-based nanomaterials for treating osteosarcoma (bone cancer), leveraging their thermal and anti-cancer properties. Photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, and nanocarrier delivery systems using GO showed promise as non-invasive, targeted alternatives to conventional bone cancer treatments.
Ecological risk assessment of microplastics and mesoplastics in six common fishes from the Bay of Bengal Coast
Researchers found microplastics in the digestive tracts and muscle tissue of six commonly eaten fish species from the Bay of Bengal, with fiber-shaped particles making up over 95% of what was found. This contamination in edible fish muscle tissue means that people who eat these species are likely ingesting microplastics directly.
Emamectin Benzoate and Microplastics Led to Skeletal Muscle Atrophy in Common Carp via Induced Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, and Protein Synthesis and Degradation Imbalance
A study in fish found that combined exposure to the pesticide emamectin benzoate and microplastics caused muscle wasting by triggering oxidative stress, damaging mitochondria (the energy-producing parts of cells), and disrupting the balance between muscle building and breakdown. This suggests that microplastics may worsen the toxic effects of pesticides on muscle health in aquatic organisms.
Post-mortem evidence of microplastic bioaccumulation in human organs: insights from advanced imaging and spectroscopic analysis
Researchers examined tissue samples from deceased individuals and found microplastics in the brain, liver, thyroid, kidney, heart, muscle, and lungs, with the thyroid, kidney, and brain showing the highest contamination at up to 40 particles per gram of tissue. Nanoscale plastic particles smaller than 0.02 micrometers were also detected, indicating that the tiniest plastics can cross biological barriers and accumulate deep in human organs.
Virgin and photo-degraded microplastics induce the activation of human vascular smooth muscle cells
Lab tests showed that common microplastics from food packaging (polyethylene and polystyrene) can activate human blood vessel smooth muscle cells in ways linked to atherosclerosis and vascular calcification. Photo-degraded microplastics -- the weathered kind found in the real environment -- triggered even stronger inflammatory responses, suggesting that environmental plastic pollution could contribute to cardiovascular disease.
Multi-omics association pattern between gut microbiota and host metabolism of a filter-feeding fish in situ exposed to microplastics
Scientists exposed filter-feeding fish to environmentally realistic levels of microplastics and found that the particles reshaped gut bacteria communities, which in turn altered the fish's liver metabolism through changes in amino acid processing. This gut-microbiome-to-organ connection matters because it shows microplastics may affect human health not just through direct toxicity but by disrupting the beneficial bacteria in our digestive systems.
Toxicological evaluation and metabolic profiling of earthworms (Eisenia fetida) after exposure to microplastics and acetochlor
Earthworms exposed to both UV-aged microplastics and the herbicide acetochlor suffered greater oxidative stress, tissue damage, and metabolic disruption than from either pollutant alone. Since earthworms are essential for healthy soil that grows our food, this combined toxicity from two common agricultural pollutants raises indirect concerns for the food supply and human health.
Polystyrene microplastics trigger colonic inflammation in rats via the TLR4/NF-κB/COX-2 pathway and modulation of intestinal microbiota
Rats exposed to polystyrene microplastics for 90 days developed significant colon inflammation, including damaged gut lining, increased inflammatory markers, and disrupted gut bacteria. The study identified a specific inflammatory pathway (TLR4/NF-kB/COX-2) through which microplastics trigger intestinal inflammation, providing important clues about how plastic particles in food and water could contribute to gut diseases in humans.
Size-Dependent Uptake and Depuration of Nanoplastics in Tilapia (<i>Oreochromis niloticus</i>) and Distinct Intestinal Impacts
Researchers tracked how tilapia fish absorb and eliminate nanoplastics of two sizes (86 and 185 nanometers) and found that both accumulated most heavily in the intestine. Smaller nanoplastics caused more physical damage to the intestinal lining, while larger ones disrupted the gut microbiome more severely. Since tilapia is widely consumed worldwide, the finding that nanoplastics build up in fish tissue and damage their guts raises concerns about the safety of farmed fish as food.
Microplastic exposure induces muscle growth but reduces meat quality and muscle physiological function in chickens
Researchers found microplastic contamination in chicken muscle tissue from a commercial farm and showed that feeding chickens polystyrene microplastics caused the plastics to accumulate in their muscles over time. While the contaminated chickens grew larger muscles, their meat quality and muscle function decreased. This study is important because it demonstrates that microplastics can build up in poultry meat, meaning people may be consuming microplastics through chicken.
Assessment of microplastic contamination in shrimps from the Bay of Bengal and associated human health risk
Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in seven shrimp species from the Bay of Bengal and found plastic particles in every species tested, with most particles smaller than 100 micrometers. The study calculated that women in Bangladesh face a higher health risk than men from eating contaminated shrimp, highlighting how seafood can be a direct pathway for microplastic exposure in human diets.
Impact of aged and virgin polyethylene microplastics on multi end-points effects of freshwater fish tissues
Freshwater fish exposed to polyethylene microplastics for 15 days showed increased oxidative stress in both liver and muscle tissue, with aged, UV-weathered microplastics causing more damage than new ones. The weathering process changed the plastic surface in ways that made the particles more chemically reactive and potentially more harmful. This matters because microplastics in the environment are typically aged, meaning lab studies using only pristine particles may underestimate real-world toxicity.
Polystyrene nanoplastics accelerate atherosclerosis: Unraveling the impact on smooth muscle cells through KIF15-mediated migration
This study found that polystyrene nanoplastics can accelerate atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) by causing smooth muscle cells in blood vessel walls to migrate abnormally through a protein called KIF15. When researchers blocked KIF15 activity, the harmful effects of the nanoplastics on blood vessels were reduced, pointing to a possible mechanism by which plastic pollution could contribute to cardiovascular disease.
Impacts of microplastic on fisheries and seafood security — Global analysis and synthesis
A global review of 10 years of research found that microplastics contaminate over 900 seafood species worldwide, with Asian seafood being the most affected. Microplastics accumulate in fish skin, gills, organs, and muscles, and are even found in dried and canned fish products. Since microplastics can carry heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxic chemicals, eating contaminated seafood is a significant pathway for human exposure to these pollutants.
RETRACTED: Characterization of microplastic pollution in the Pasur river of the Sundarbans ecosystem (Bangladesh) with emphasis on water, sediments, and fish
This retracted study characterized microplastic pollution in the Pasur River of Bangladesh's Sundarbans, finding plastic particles in 100% of water, sediment, and fish samples analyzed. Microplastics were found in both the digestive tracts and muscle tissue of nine fish species, with some species accumulating high levels in the edible flesh. Note: this paper has been retracted, so its findings should be treated with caution.
Potential mechanisms of aortic medial degeneration promoted by co-exposure to microplastics and lead
Researchers found that microplastics and lead were both present in tissue samples from patients with aortic disease, and in mice, combined exposure to both pollutants caused significant damage to the aorta -- the body's main artery. The co-exposure triggered a form of cell death in blood vessel muscle cells through oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage. This suggests that microplastics may worsen the cardiovascular effects of heavy metals people are already exposed to.
Exploring the trophic transfer and effects of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems: A focus on Bellamya aeruginosa to Mylopharyngodon piceus
This study tracked how microplastics transfer through a freshwater food chain, from snails to a commercially important fish species in China. The fish steadily accumulated microplastics over five weeks of eating contaminated snails, with particles moving from the gut into muscle tissue and altering gut bacteria to include more potentially harmful species -- highlighting how microplastics in aquatic food chains could ultimately reach people who eat fish.