Papers

Rapid single-particle chemical imaging of nanoplastics by SRS microscopy

Using a new high-speed imaging technique, researchers detected and identified nanoplastics in bottled water at the single-particle level, finding roughly 240,000 plastic particles per liter. This is far more than previously estimated and includes particles smaller than 100 nanometers made from common plastics, suggesting our exposure to nanoplastics from bottled water may be much higher than thought.

Toxicity and absorption of polystyrene micro-nanoplastics in healthy and Crohn’s disease human duodenum-chip models

Using an advanced gut-on-a-chip model built from human intestinal cells, researchers found that 25-nanometer polystyrene particles could cross the intestinal barrier through both passive leaking and active cell transport. The nanoplastics also turned down a gene involved in immune defense (IFI6), suggesting that even without causing obvious cell damage, nanoplastics may weaken the gut's ability to fight off infections.

Rapid detection of microplastics and nanoplastics in seconds by mass spectrometry

Scientists developed a rapid method that can detect microplastics and nanoplastics in just 10 seconds by burning a dried sample in front of a mass spectrometer, skipping the usual hours of preparation. The technique successfully identified nanoplastics in mouse placenta tissue, showing its potential for quickly screening food, water, and biological samples for plastic contamination.

Formation of environmentally persistent free radicals on microplastics under UV irradiations

This study found that UV light from the sun creates long-lasting free radicals on the surface of microplastics, with stronger UV producing more radicals faster. These environmentally persistent free radicals are chemically reactive and can damage cells and DNA. The finding is important because it means sunlight-weathered microplastics in the environment may be more harmful than fresh plastics, carrying these damaging free radicals into the body when ingested or inhaled.

Single pulmonary nanopolystyrene exposure in late-stage pregnancy dysregulates maternal and fetal cardiovascular function

A single lung exposure to nanoplastics in pregnant rats during late pregnancy reduced fetal and placental weight and caused cardiovascular problems in both the mother and the developing fetus. The nanoplastics disrupted blood flow through the uterine arteries and impaired fetal heart function. This study is concerning because it shows that even a brief inhalation of nanoplastics during pregnancy can have immediate effects on fetal development.

Single inhalation exposure to polyamide micro and nanoplastic particles impairs vascular dilation without generating pulmonary inflammation in virgin female Sprague Dawley rats

A single inhalation exposure to polyamide (nylon) micro and nanoplastic particles impaired blood vessel function in female rats without causing obvious lung inflammation. This suggests that inhaled plastic particles may harm the cardiovascular system through pathways that do not involve the lungs directly. The finding is concerning because it means even brief exposure to airborne microplastics could affect heart and blood vessel health in ways that might go unnoticed.

Identification of micro- and nanoplastic particles in postnatal sprague-dawley rat offspring after maternal inhalation exposure throughout gestation

Pregnant rats that inhaled micro- and nanoplastic particles throughout gestation passed them to their offspring, with plastic particles detected in pup tissues after birth. This is one of the first studies to show that inhaled microplastics can cross the placental barrier during pregnancy and persist in offspring, raising concerns about prenatal exposure from airborne plastic pollution.

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.

Ingested Polystyrene Nanospheres Translocate to Placenta and Fetal Tissues in Pregnant Rats: Potential Health Implications

In a study on pregnant rats, researchers found that ingested nanoplastics (tiny 25-nanometer plastic spheres) crossed both the intestinal barrier and the placental barrier to reach every fetal organ examined, including the brain, heart, liver, kidneys, and lungs. This is the first study to directly demonstrate that swallowed nanoplastics can travel from a mother's gut to developing fetal tissues. The findings raise serious concerns about potential health effects of nanoplastic exposure during human pregnancy.

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) and their potential toxicological outcomes: State of science, knowledge gaps and research needs

This review summarizes what is known about the toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics in mammals, drawing from both cell studies and animal experiments. Evidence suggests these particles can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, gut disruption, and reproductive harm, with effects depending on particle size, shape, and chemical composition. However, most studies use uniform lab-made particles rather than the irregular plastics humans actually encounter, making real-world risk assessment challenging.

Effective density of inhaled environmental and engineered nanoparticles and its impact on the lung deposition and dosimetry

This study shows that the way inhaled nanoparticles clump together changes their actual density, which in turn affects how deeply they deposit in the lungs. Current lung dosimetry models overestimate exposure by using bulk material density instead of the real effective density of airborne particle clusters. Getting this measurement right is essential for accurately assessing the health risks of inhaling nanoparticles, including nanoplastics.

Micro-nanoscale polystyrene co-exposure impacts the uptake and translocation of arsenic and boscalid by lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

Researchers found that nanoscale polystyrene particles dramatically increase arsenic translocation from roots to edible shoots of lettuce — up to threefold — while also entering root cells and migrating to leaves, demonstrating that microplastic co-exposure can substantially amplify the accumulation of other environmental contaminants in food crops.

Plastics can be used more sustainably in agriculture

Researchers reviewed how plastics used in farming — from mulch films to storage bins — are building up in soils worldwide, and mapped out practical strategies to curb the problem. They conclude that while plastics can't be fully replaced yet without harming food security, smarter use, better recycling, and biodegradable alternatives are essential steps forward.

Characterization of microplastics in indoor and ambient air in northern New Jersey

Researchers characterized airborne microplastics in both indoor and outdoor environments across northern New Jersey, finding fibers, films, and fragments of common plastic types in offices, classrooms, hallways, and homes. Indoor microplastic concentrations were generally higher than outdoor levels, with deposition rates varying by location and particle size. The study adds to growing evidence that indoor air is a significant pathway for human microplastic exposure through inhalation.

Occurrence and Quantification of Tire Wear Plastics Pollutants from Highway City Dust of Bhubaneswar City of Odisha

Assessment of Ingested Micro- and Nanoplastic (MNP)-Mediated Genotoxicity in an In Vitro Model of the Small Intestinal Epithelium (SIE)

Researchers tested whether micro and nanoplastics can damage DNA in a lab model of the human small intestine and found that weathered nanoplastics caused significant genetic damage to intestinal cells. Fresh, pristine plastic particles were less harmful than environmentally aged ones, suggesting that real-world microplastics may be more genotoxic than what most lab studies have tested. This is important because DNA damage in gut cells could potentially increase the risk of intestinal diseases including cancer.

A Call to Include Plastics in the Global Environment in the Class of Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT) Pollutants

This viewpoint paper argues that plastics in the environment should be formally classified as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic pollutants, the same category as chemicals like DDT and mercury. The authors present evidence that plastics meet all three criteria: they resist degradation, accumulate in organisms and food chains, and release harmful chemicals. Reclassifying plastics this way could trigger stronger regulatory protections worldwide.

Fatigue behaviour of load-bearing polymeric bone scaffolds: A review

This review examines how polymeric bone scaffolds used in tissue engineering perform under repeated mechanical stress, focusing on their fatigue behavior. While not directly about microplastics, the research is relevant because it explores how polymer materials break down under physical stress, which is similar to how plastic products degrade into microplastics in the environment. Understanding polymer fatigue helps explain why plastic materials fragment over time and contribute to micro- and nanoplastic pollution.

Nanopolystyrene translocation and fetal deposition after acute lung exposure during late-stage pregnancy

Researchers exposed pregnant mice to nanoscale polystyrene particles through inhalation and tracked where the particles traveled. They found that the nanoplastics crossed from the lungs into the bloodstream and accumulated in both placental and fetal tissues, confirming that inhaled plastic nanoparticles can reach developing offspring during pregnancy.

Occurrence of microplastics and distinct plastisphere in aquatic environments of metal mining areas in South China

Researchers studied microplastic pollution in waterways near metal mining areas in southern China and found that acid mine drainage creates a unique microbial community on the surface of microplastic particles. The microplastics were present in both water and sediment, and they carried heavy metals from the mining operations. The study reveals that in mining regions, microplastics may act as carriers that spread heavy metal contamination further through aquatic environments.

Gestational exposure to micro and nanoplastics differentially impacts cardiac development and function in male and female rats throughout the lifespan

Researchers exposed pregnant rats to airborne micro- and nanoplastics and tracked heart development and function in their offspring from before birth through three months of age. They found that the exposure caused sex-specific cardiac changes, including altered heart wall thickness and chamber dimensions that persisted into adulthood. The study suggests that prenatal microplastic exposure may program lasting cardiovascular differences, with male and female offspring affected in distinct ways.

Aggregation and deposition kinetics of polystyrene nanoplastics in lung fluids: Influence of particle property, fluid condition, and surfactant protein

Researchers investigated how tiny polystyrene nanoplastics behave after being inhaled into the lungs by simulating their interactions with lung fluids in the lab. They found that the particles rapidly clump together and settle out of acidic lung fluid much faster than neutral fluid, with particle size and surface charge playing key roles. The findings suggest that once inhaled, nanoplastics may accumulate in lung tissue rather than being easily cleared.

Ingested Polystyrene Micro-Nanoplastics Increase the Absorption of Co-Ingested Arsenic and Boscalid in an In Vitro Triculture Small Intestinal Epithelium Model

Researchers used an advanced intestinal cell model to study whether ingesting polystyrene micro-nanoplastics alongside environmental pollutants like arsenic and boscalid changes how those contaminants are absorbed. They found that the presence of microplastics significantly increased the intestinal uptake of both co-ingested pollutants. The study suggests that microplastics may act as carriers that enhance human exposure to other harmful chemicals through the diet.

Polymer weathering under simulated solar radiation and comparison to stormwater and estuarine microplastics

Researchers weathered polyethylene and polypropylene plastics under simulated sunlight in water for 90 days and compared their spectral changes to those found in environmental microplastics from stormwater and estuaries. They found that polypropylene degraded faster than polyethylene and that spectral databases had difficulty accurately identifying heavily weathered plastics. The study highlights challenges in identifying and age-dating microplastics found in the environment.