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Papers
652 resultsBioaccumulation 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 Impact of Nanoplastics in Biological Systems: Systematic Review of In Vitro Animal Studies
This systematic review of lab studies found that nanoplastics can damage cells in the gut, lungs, liver, brain, and reproductive organs of animals. These ultra-small plastic particles appear capable of crossing biological barriers and causing inflammation and oxidative stress, raising concerns about similar effects in humans.
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.
MicroRaman spectroscopy detects the presence of microplastics in human urine and kidney tissue
Scientists confirmed for the first time that microplastics accumulate in human kidney tissue, finding 26 plastic particles in kidney and urine samples using advanced spectroscopy. The most common plastics found were polyethylene and polystyrene, with particles ranging from 1 to 29 micrometers in kidneys, providing the first direct evidence that microplastics can deposit in human kidneys.
The world of plastic waste: A review
This review provides a broad overview of the global plastic waste crisis, noting that over 359 million tons of plastic are produced annually and much of it ends up polluting the environment. Plastics break down into micro and nano sizes that spread through air, water, and soil, harming wildlife through ingestion and entanglement and threatening human health through cardiovascular disease, kidney problems, and cancer. The authors discuss end-of-life solutions including recycling, energy recovery, and biodegradable alternatives.
A review of potential human health impacts of micro- and nanoplastics exposure
This systematic review summarized 133 studies on how micro- and nanoplastics affect human health based on mammalian research. The evidence points to cell damage, inflammation, gut disruption, and reproductive harm, though most studies focused on polystyrene particles and more research is needed on other common plastic types.
Effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on the kidney and cardiovascular system
This review summarizes evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics found in human hearts, kidneys, blood, and urine can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, cell death, and metabolic disruption. Kidney dialysis patients may face especially high exposure, and clinical evidence suggests particulate plastic exposure is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Microplastic exposure and its consequences for renal and urinary health: systematic review of <i>in vivo</i> studies
This systematic review examines animal studies on how microplastic exposure affects the kidneys and urinary system. The evidence suggests that microplastics can accumulate in kidney tissue and may cause inflammation and oxidative stress, raising concerns about potential long-term effects on human kidney health as our exposure to these particles continues to grow.
A Systematic Review of the Toxicokinetics of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Mammals Following Digestive Exposure
This systematic review summarizes existing research on what happens to micro and nanoplastics after mammals ingest them through food and water. The evidence shows these particles can survive digestion and potentially cross into tissues and organs, raising important questions about long-term health effects from the microplastics we unknowingly consume every day.
Mechanistic insight into potential toxic effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on human health
This review summarizes how microplastics and nanoplastics enter the body through breathing, eating, and skin contact, then travel through the bloodstream to deposit in organs. Studies show they can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, immune dysfunction, genetic damage, developmental abnormalities, and potentially cancer, though most evidence comes from cell and animal studies rather than human research.
Toxicological effects and mechanisms of renal injury induced by inhalation exposure to airborne nanoplastics
Researchers studied what happens to mouse kidneys after breathing in airborne polystyrene nanoplastics and found the particles accumulated in kidney tissue after entering through the lungs. The nanoplastics activated stress and inflammation pathways that led to kidney cell damage and death. Testing on lab-grown human kidney organoids showed they were even more sensitive to nanoplastic exposure than standard cell lines, suggesting developing kidneys in embryos could be particularly vulnerable.
Inhalation of Microplastics Induces Inflammatory Injuries in Multiple Murine Organs via the Toll-like Receptor Pathway
After mice inhaled polystyrene microplastics, the particles spread to the brain, liver, kidneys, spleen, and other organs within days, triggering widespread inflammation through a specific immune signaling pathway called TLR/NF-kB. These findings suggest that breathing in microplastics could cause inflammatory damage across multiple organ systems in the body.
Leaching of chemicals from microplastics: A review of chemical types, leaching mechanisms and influencing factors
This review examines how chemicals added to plastics during manufacturing, including flame retardants, plasticizers, and antioxidants, can leach out of microplastics once they enter the body or the environment. These released chemicals can disrupt hormones, harm brain development, and damage kidneys, making the chemical cargo of microplastics a significant concern for human health beyond the physical particles themselves.
Bioaccumulation of Microplastics in Decedent Human Brains Assessed by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Researchers analyzed autopsy samples and found that human brains contained significantly higher concentrations of microplastics than livers or kidneys, with polyethylene being the dominant type. Strikingly, microplastic levels in brain tissue increased substantially between samples collected in 2016 and 2024, suggesting that human brain exposure to microplastics is rising over time.
Microplastics: A Real Global Threat for Environment and Food Safety: A State of the Art Review
This review examines how microplastics have been found in drinking water, salt, honey, seafood, and air, and how they can travel to organs including the brain, liver, and heart after being absorbed. Once inside the body, plastic additives and attached pollutants may disrupt the immune and endocrine systems, affect reproduction, and potentially contribute to cancer risk.
Health benefits and health risks of contaminated fish consumption: Current research outputs, research approaches, and perspectives
This review examines the health tradeoffs of eating fish, which provides valuable omega-3 fatty acids and protein but can also contain harmful contaminants like mercury, PCBs, and plastic waste. The authors found that contaminated fish consumption is linked to cancer, kidney damage, and neurological effects, particularly in vulnerable groups like pregnant women and children.
Effects of microplastics on the kidneys: a narrative review
This review summarizes growing evidence that microplastics can accumulate in the kidneys, where they may trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular damage that could worsen kidney function. People with chronic kidney disease may be especially vulnerable because impaired kidney filtration could allow microplastics to build up more readily in their bodies.
Assessing the Release of Microplastics and Nanoplastics from Plastic Containers and Reusable Food Pouches: Implications for Human Health
Researchers found that microwaving food in plastic containers can release up to 4.22 million microplastic and 2.11 billion nanoplastic particles per square centimeter in just 3 minutes, with infants and toddlers facing the highest estimated exposure from heated baby food and drinks. Cell studies showed these released particles killed up to 77% of human kidney cells at high concentrations, raising serious concerns about everyday plastic food container use.
The impact of oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction on diabetic microvascular complications
This review examines how high blood sugar in diabetes triggers excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mitochondria, leading to a destructive cycle of cellular damage that drives complications in the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels. While focused on diabetes, this mechanism is relevant to microplastic research because microplastics are also known to increase ROS production and mitochondrial dysfunction in human cells.
The emerging role of microplastics in systemic toxicity: Involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS)
This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics cause damage at every level of biological complexity -- from molecules and cells to organs and organ systems -- primarily by generating harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS). These ROS trigger chain reactions including DNA damage, protein breakdown, and cell death pathways, which may contribute to inflammation and disease in exposed organisms, including humans.
Polystyrene nanoplastics induce intestinal and hepatic inflammation through activation of NF-κB/NLRP3 pathways and related gut-liver axis in mice
In a mouse study, ingested polystyrene nanoplastics accumulated in the gut and liver and triggered inflammation through specific immune pathways, damaging the intestinal lining and allowing bacterial toxins to leak into the liver. This gut-liver connection suggests that swallowing nanoplastics could set off a chain reaction of inflammation affecting multiple organs in the body.
Individual and combined effects of microplastics and diphenyl phthalate as plastic additives on male goldfish: A biochemical and physiological investigation
Male goldfish exposed to both microplastics and the plasticizer chemical DPP (diphenyl phthalate) together showed significant liver damage, disrupted fat and sugar metabolism, and hormonal imbalances including decreased testosterone and increased estrogen. The combined exposure was more harmful than either pollutant alone, demonstrating how microplastics and their chemical additives can work together to disrupt the endocrine system.
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.
Urinary microplastic contaminants in primary school children: Associations with behavioral development
A study of 1,000 primary school children in China found that higher levels of microplastics in their urine were associated with more emotional problems, conduct issues, hyperactivity, and difficulty with peer relationships. This is one of the first studies to link microplastic exposure in children to behavioral development, raising concerns about the neurodevelopmental effects of these widespread pollutants.