Papers

Advanced understanding of the natural forces accelerating aging and release of black microplastics (tire wear particles) based on mechanism and toxicity analysis

Tire wear particles, a major but often overlooked source of microplastics in water, release heavy metals (especially zinc) and toxic organic chemicals as they age under sunlight and heat. The aging process increases the toxicity of these released substances to cells, raising concerns about long-term health effects from this widespread form of microplastic pollution.

Nanoplastics disrupt hepatic lipid metabolism via the inhibition of PPARγ: a study based on digestive system exposure

Using data from a large U.S. health survey, researchers linked bottled water consumption (a known source of nanoplastic exposure) to higher rates of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In mouse experiments, nanoplastics disrupted fat metabolism in the liver by blocking a key protein called PPARgamma. This suggests that nanoplastics entering the body through everyday drinking water could contribute to liver disease by interfering with how the liver processes fats.

Detection and quantification of microplastics in meconium by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS)

Scientists developed a method to detect and measure eight types of microplastics in meconium, the first stool a newborn passes after birth. They found microplastics including polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene in the samples, confirming that babies are exposed to microplastics before or during birth. This study provides direct evidence that microplastics reach the human body at the very earliest stage of life.

Quercetin intervention mitigates small intestinal damage and immunologic derangement induced by polystyrene nanoplastics: Insights from multi-omics analysis in mice

Researchers found that quercetin, a natural compound found in fruits and vegetables, protected mice from gut damage and immune system disruption caused by polystyrene nanoplastics. The nanoplastics damaged the small intestine and disrupted immune balance, but quercetin reversed much of this harm by restoring healthy gut bacteria and gene activity. This suggests that dietary compounds like quercetin might help counteract some negative health effects of nanoplastic exposure.

The regulation of circRNA_kif26b on alveolar epithelial cell senescence via miR-346-3p is involved in microplastics-induced lung injuries

Researchers found that inhaled polystyrene microplastics caused lung damage in rats by accelerating the aging of cells lining the air sacs, through a specific molecular pathway involving circular RNA. The microplastics triggered inflammation, fibrosis, and premature cell aging in lung tissue over a 35-day exposure period. The study reveals a new mechanism by which inhaled microplastics may contribute to lung injury.

Mechanism of circRNA_SMG6 mediating lung macrophage ECM degradation via miR-570-3p in microplastics-induced emphysema

In a rat study, inhaling polystyrene microplastics for 90 days caused lung damage resembling emphysema, including inflammation, thickened tissue walls, and enlarged air sacs. The microplastics triggered the breakdown of the structural support network in the lungs through a specific molecular pathway involving circular RNA. This research provides a mechanism by which breathing in microplastic particles could contribute to chronic lung disease in humans.

Effects induced by polyethylene microplastics oral exposure on colon mucin release, inflammation, gut microflora composition and metabolism in mice

Researchers fed mice polyethylene microplastics for 30 days and found that even low doses reduced protective mucus in the colon, altered inflammation markers, and shifted the composition of gut bacteria. The microplastics increased the ratio of Bacteroides to Firmicutes bacteria and affected metabolic pathways in the gut microbiome. The study suggests that oral microplastic exposure may disrupt intestinal health by modifying the gut microbial community and its metabolism.

The landscape of micron-scale particles including microplastics in human enclosed body fluids

Researchers conducted the first comprehensive survey of micron-scale particles, including microplastics, across thirteen types of human body fluids spanning eight organ systems. They detected microparticles in multiple enclosed body fluids, with polyethylene and polyamide among the most common plastic types found. The findings suggest that microplastic exposure in humans is more widespread than previously understood, with particles reaching diverse internal compartments.

Exposure to irregular microplastic shed from baby bottles activates the ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway, causing intestinal inflammation

Researchers found that baby bottles made of polypropylene release irregularly shaped microplastics when exposed to boiling water or microwave heating, and these particles triggered inflammation in human intestinal cells. The microplastics activated a specific inflammatory pathway (NLRP3 inflammasome) that caused oxidative stress and elevated levels of pro-inflammatory signals. This is especially concerning for infant health, as babies may be exposed to these particles daily through heated formula and milk.

Unraveling micro/nanoplastics and phthalates in infusion solutions: A novel integrated approach for quantification and cardiovascular cytotoxicity evaluation

Researchers developed a new method to detect and measure micro- and nanoplastics in medical infusion solutions (IV bags) and found significant contamination in commonly used glucose and saline fluids. Nanoplastics dominated the contamination, with polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene detected alongside phthalate chemicals that showed a strong correlation with plastic particle levels. The study suggests that IV therapy may be an overlooked route of direct plastic particle exposure into the bloodstream, and that combined exposure to nanoplastics and phthalates can have synergistic toxic effects on cardiovascular cells.

Sex-specific effects of aged polystyrene microplastics on hepatic AMPK pathway activation and lipid droplet accumulation in MAFLD mice

Researchers examined how aged polystyrene microplastics affect liver fat metabolism differently in male and female mice with fatty liver disease. They found that while both sexes showed increased inflammation and oxidative stress, only female mice experienced a reduction in liver fat accumulation, potentially linked to estrogen-related metabolic pathways. The study reveals important sex-specific differences in how microplastics interact with metabolic conditions, suggesting that health effects may vary between males and females.

Preliminary study on impacts of polystyrene microplastics on the hematological system and gene expression in bone marrow cells of mice

Researchers studied the effects of polystyrene microplastics on the blood system and bone marrow gene expression in mice. They found that higher doses significantly decreased white blood cell counts and altered gene expression patterns in bone marrow cells, suggesting that microplastic exposure may affect the hematological system in mammals through changes in immune-related gene regulation.

A bibliometric perspective on the occurrence and migration of microplastics in soils amended with sewage sludge

Researchers used bibliometric analysis to map the growing body of research on microplastics in soils that receive sewage sludge. The study suggests that applying sewage sludge to farmland introduces thousands to hundreds of thousands of microplastic particles per kilogram into the soil, with estimated annual accumulations reaching into the trillions of particles across China and Europe.

Microplastic accumulation and transport in agricultural soils with long-term sewage sludge amendments

This study examined farmland that received sewage sludge applications for 16 years and found that microplastic levels in the topsoil were about five times higher than in untreated fields. Microplastics also migrated deeper into the soil over time, with migration rates 20 times greater in sludge-treated areas. The findings demonstrate that long-term use of sewage sludge as fertilizer is a significant pathway for microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils.

Electrochemical oxidation degradation of polystyrene nanoplastics by Sm-Mn intermediate layer Ti/Sb-SnO2 anode: Composite metal elements enhance electron transfer and promote the generation of hydroxyl radicals

Researchers developed a titanium anode co-doped with samarium and manganese to electrochemically degrade polystyrene nanoplastics in water, achieving 58.75% removal efficiency and an 825-hour electrode lifespan, with density functional theory calculations revealing that the bimetal synergy accelerates electron transfer and hydroxyl radical generation that cleave plastic polymer chains.

Dynamic tissue model in vitro and its application for assessment of microplastics-induced toxicity to air-blood barrier (ABB)

Researchers developed a dynamic in vitro air-blood barrier model that mimics human blood flow and shear stress to evaluate the toxicity of PET microplastics. The study found that this dynamic model more accurately reflected physiological conditions compared to conventional static models, providing a more reliable tool for assessing how inhaled microplastics may damage lung tissue.

Microplastic-associated gut microbial profile and antibiotic resistance in preschool children: a multicentre cross-sectional study in China

In a multicentre study of 335 preschool children across three Chinese cities, researchers detected eight types of microplastics in fecal samples at a median concentration of 212.1 micrograms per gram. The study found that microplastic exposure was associated with changes in gut microbiota composition and function, including metabolic pathways related to macronutrients and vitamins, as well as a relationship with antibiotic resistance gene abundance.

Microplastics release from infant feeding bottles and milk storage bags

A new mechanism for ubiquitination in polystyrene nanoplastic-induced spatial cognitive dysfunction through microglial activation-induced apoptosis of neurons

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoparticles disrupt microglial lipid metabolism in the brain by suppressing the protein RNF139, which leads to SREBP activation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammatory signaling that ultimately kills neurons and impairs spatial memory in mice.

Suboptimal Thermal Storage Facilitates Aging of Bottle-Sourced Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics Fueling Hepatic Steatosis through Gut-Liver Axis Disruption

Scientists found that plastic water bottles stored in hot conditions (like in a car or warehouse) release aged microplastics that can cause fatty liver disease in fish. These heat-damaged plastic particles disrupt gut bacteria and damage the intestinal lining, leading to inflammation that spreads to the liver. This suggests people should avoid drinking from plastic bottles that have been stored in hot places, as the aged microplastics may pose greater health risks than fresh plastic particles.

Gender difference in hepatic AMPK pathway activated lipid metabolism induced by aged polystyrene microplastics exposure

Researchers found gender-specific effects of aged polystyrene microplastics on lipid metabolism in mice, with females showing significant fat reduction and altered estrogen-AMPK signaling pathways in the liver, while males showed different metabolic responses.

Nanoplastics exacerbate lead exposure-induced developmental neurotoxicity by disrupting gut integrity in Drosophila

Researchers used Drosophila fruit flies to show that co-exposure to nanoplastics and lead is more neurodevelopmentally damaging than lead alone, with nanoplastics promoting lead accumulation in neural tissue, disrupting gut integrity, and worsening oxidative stress, learning deficits, and motor impairment — with female flies showing greater sensitivity.

Exploring a health effect sensitivity distribution method for deriving microplastic toxicity thresholds: Application to microplastic risk assessment of school-aged children in Pudong, Shanghai

Researchers derived the first gender-specific human toxicity thresholds for microplastics using a novel health effect sensitivity distribution method, finding that females may be more sensitive than males. In a dietary risk assessment of children in Shanghai, the study found that about 14% of children exceeded the safety threshold, with higher prevalence among girls and urban residents.

Enterohepatic circulation of nanoplastics induced hyperplasia, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and neutrophil extracellular traps in gallbladder