Papers

Drinking Boiled Tap Water Reduces Human Intake of Nanoplastics and Microplastics

A study found that simply boiling tap water can remove at least 80% of nano- and microplastics by causing them to become trapped in calcium carbonate (limescite) deposits that naturally form during boiling. This traditional practice, common in parts of Asia, offers a free and easy way for people to significantly reduce the amount of plastic particles they consume through drinking water.

Nanoplastics causes heart aging/myocardial cell senescence through the Ca2+/mtDNA/cGAS-STING signaling cascade

Researchers discovered that nanoplastics can cause heart aging by entering heart muscle cells and triggering a chain reaction: they damage mitochondria (the cell's energy source), which leaks DNA into the cell, activating an immune alarm system called the cGAS-STING pathway. This is the first study to reveal how long-term nanoplastic exposure could accelerate heart aging, raising concerns about the cardiovascular effects of plastic pollution.

Adolescent exposure to micro/nanoplastics induces cognitive impairments in mice with neuronal morphological damage and multi-omic alterations

Adolescent mice exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics showed significant memory and learning problems, along with neuron loss and reduced new brain cell growth in the hippocampus. The nanoplastics also disrupted gut bacteria and brain chemistry, with strong links found between gut microbiome changes and brain metabolic disruption, suggesting that plastic exposure during youth may impair brain development through the gut-brain connection.

In vivo and In vitro assessment of the retinal toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics

Researchers found that orally ingested polystyrene nanoplastics can reach the mouse retina within just two hours and, after prolonged exposure, damage the blood-retina barrier, cause oxidative stress, and trigger cell death in retinal tissue. Tests on human retinal cells confirmed similar toxic effects, suggesting that nanoplastic exposure through food and water could pose previously unrecognized risks to eye health.

Polystyrene nanoplastics lead to ferroptosis in the lungs

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics trigger ferroptosis — a type of iron-driven cell death — in the cells lining the lungs by activating a stress signaling pathway (HIF-1α/HO-1), ultimately causing lung tissue injury. This adds to growing evidence that inhaled nanoplastics can directly damage respiratory tissue through oxidative cell death mechanisms.

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.

Polystyrene microplastics induce size-dependent multi-organ damage in mice: Insights into gut microbiota and fecal metabolites

A mouse study found that microplastics of different sizes cause damage to multiple organs, but in different ways. Smaller particles (0.5 micrometers) spread more widely through the body and caused more inflammation in the spleen, kidneys, heart, lungs, and liver, while larger particles (5 micrometers) caused worse gut damage and disrupted gut bacteria linked to brain inflammation. This suggests that the size of microplastics we are exposed to matters for which organs are most affected.

Multiomics analysis revealed the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics at different environmentally relevant concentrations on intestinal homeostasis

Researchers fed mice polystyrene nanoplastics at three different doses for 42 days and used multiple analysis methods to study the effects on gut health. Even the lowest dose increased gut permeability (leaky gut), triggered inflammation, and disrupted the balance of gut bacteria and their metabolites. These findings suggest that environmentally realistic levels of nanoplastic exposure could harm intestinal health and potentially contribute to chronic gut problems.

Prenatal and postnatal exposure to polystyrene microplastics induces testis developmental disorder and affects male fertility in mice

Researchers exposed pregnant mice and their offspring to polystyrene microplastics from gestation through early life and found significant disruption to testicular development and male reproductive function. The exposed males showed reduced sperm quality, lower testosterone levels, and structural damage to testicular tissue. The study suggests that early-life microplastic exposure may have lasting effects on male fertility.

Microplastics from consumer plastic food containers: Are we consuming it?

Researchers analyzed new, unused plastic food containers and disposable cups and found that they shed significant amounts of microplastics even before being used. Round containers, rectangular containers, and cups released an average of 12, 38, and 3 milligrams of microplastic per item respectively, in various shapes and sizes. The findings suggest that plastic food packaging itself is an important and overlooked source of direct human exposure to microplastics.

Microplastics in the Lung Tissues Associated with Blood Test Index

Researchers analyzed lung tissue from 12 nonsmoking patients and found microplastics in all samples, with 12 different plastic types detected and polypropylene being the most common. Women and people living near major roads had higher microplastic levels in their lungs, and the amounts correlated with changes in blood clotting markers. This study provides direct evidence that microplastics accumulate in human lungs and may affect blood health, even in people who have never smoked.

Mitigation of polystyrene microplastic-induced hepatotoxicity in human hepatobiliary organoids through bile extraction

Using lab-grown human liver organoids, researchers discovered that polystyrene microplastics accumulate in bile ducts and cause liver cell damage. They found that a bile acid medication called ursodeoxycholic acid actually helped move microplastics into bile ducts for removal, while blocking bile transport made the liver damage worse. This study suggests that the body's bile system may play a role in clearing microplastics from the liver, pointing toward potential treatment strategies.

Multi-omics analysis of testis after long-term exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics reveals premature testicular aging and age-dependent damage in mice

Researchers used multi-omics analysis to study the effects of long-term polystyrene nanoplastic exposure on mouse testes and found signs of premature testicular aging. The damage was dependent on both the age of the mice and the duration of exposure, with younger animals showing particular vulnerability. The study suggests that protecting mRNA metabolism and testosterone production could help preserve reproductive function in males exposed to nanoplastics.

New Evidence of Microplastics in the Lower Respiratory Tract: Inhalation through Smoking

Researchers collected lung fluid samples from smokers and nonsmokers and found that smokers had significantly higher concentrations of microplastics in their lower respiratory tract. A laboratory smoking simulation confirmed that cigarette smoke itself carries microplastic particles, including polyurethane and silicone. The study identifies smoking as a previously unrecognized route of microplastic inhalation, adding to the known health concerns associated with tobacco use.

Dysregulation of gut health in zebrafish by differentially charged nanoplastic exposure: an integrated analysis of histopathology, immunology, and microbial informatics

Researchers studied how nanoplastics with different surface charges affect gut health in zebrafish using histopathology, immunology, and microbial analysis. The study found that gut damage and microflora disturbance caused by nanoplastic ingestion significantly depended on the surface functional groups of the particles.

Evidence of Microplastics in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid among Never-Smokers: A Prospective Case Series

Researchers conducted a prospective case series examining bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 18 never-smokers in China using laser direct infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The study found evidence of microplastic deposition in the respiratory tract, suggesting that inhaled microplastics can accumulate in the lungs even among people who have never smoked.

Nanoplastics in the Human Respiratory System

This research paper reports on the detection and characterization of nanoplastics in the human respiratory system, published in a leading pulmonary medicine journal. The study adds to growing evidence that extremely small plastic particles are present in human lungs. The findings underscore the importance of understanding inhalation as a key route of human exposure to plastic pollution.

Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and PCB-44 exposure on growth and physiological biochemistry of Chlorella vulgaris

Researchers studied the combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and a common industrial pollutant (PCB-44) on a freshwater green algae species over both short and long exposure periods. They found that both contaminants individually inhibited algae growth and disrupted cell functions, but their combined presence intensified the damage. The study highlights that when nanoplastics and chemical pollutants co-exist in water, they can create compounding harmful effects on aquatic organisms.

Elevated blood microplastics and their potential association with Parkinson’s disease

Researchers collected blood samples from 21 Parkinson's disease patients and 12 healthy controls and found that patients with Parkinson's had significantly higher levels of microplastics in their blood. The Parkinson's patients also reported more frequent use of disposable plastic products and bottled water, suggesting greater environmental exposure. The study provides early evidence of a potential association between blood microplastic levels and Parkinson's disease, though further research is needed to understand any causal relationship.

Sustainable and Electrostatically Engineered MXene-Based composite for environmental pollution remediation of Congo red dye and Cefixime from wastewater

Geospatial environmental sources of inhaled microplastics: A case in Zhuhai, China

Researchers analyzed bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 454 participants who underwent bronchoscopy in Zhuhai, China, to identify environmental sources of inhaled microplastics. They found that proximity to roads, coastlines, and industrial parks was associated with higher microplastic levels in lung fluid. The study provides some of the first direct evidence linking specific geospatial environmental sources to the microplastics found in human lungs.

First identification of microplastics in umbilical cord blood and their direct target proteins: A pioneering discovery

In a pioneering study, researchers detected microplastics in all human umbilical cord blood samples tested, at a mean concentration of 41.128 micrograms per gram, with polystyrene, polyethylene, PVC, and polypropylene being the most common polymers. Using advanced proteomics, the study identified 84 proteins that directly bind to microplastics, with significant enrichment in hypoxia signaling pathway proteins, providing the first evidence of specific molecular targets of microplastics in fetal circulation.

Micro-nanoplastics and Parkinson’s disease: evidence and perspectives

Researchers reviewed growing evidence linking micro- and nanoplastic exposure to Parkinson's disease, a degenerative brain condition. Lab studies suggest these particles may accelerate disease by promoting the misfolding of a key brain protein (alpha-synuclein), triggering inflammation, and damaging mitochondria — though large-scale human studies are still needed to establish causation and define safe exposure thresholds.

Micro/nanoplastics and eye health: a review

This review examined the potential effects of micro- and nanoplastics on eye health, finding that ocular exposure can occur through direct contact and oral ingestion, with particles potentially penetrating biological barriers to reach eye tissues. Evidence indicates that these particles may induce adverse effects on the eye surface, elevate intraocular pressure, and cause retinal abnormalities, primarily through oxidative stress and inflammation mechanisms.