Papers

Nano polystyrene induced changes in anxiety and learning behaviour are mediated through oxidative stress and gene disturbance in mouse brain regions

Researchers orally exposed mice to polystyrene nanoplastics for eight weeks and documented impaired learning, spatial memory deficits, and heightened anxiety, linked to oxidative stress, reduced neurotransmitter gene expression, and altered acetylcholinesterase activity across three brain regions including the cortex and hippocampus.

Vertebrate response to microplastics, nanoplastics and co-exposed contaminants: Assessing accumulation, toxicity, behaviour, physiology, and molecular changes

This review summarizes research on how microplastics and nanoplastics affect vertebrate animals, finding that these particles can cross biological barriers, accumulate in organs including the brain, and cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and behavioral changes. A major concern highlighted is transgenerational harm, where toxic effects appear in offspring that were never directly exposed. The review underscores the need for more research on long-term, low-dose exposure that mirrors real-world human conditions.

Combined effect of polystyrene nanoplastic and di-n-butyl phthalate on testicular health of male Swiss albino mice: analysis of sperm-related parameters and potential toxic effects

This mouse study found that combined exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and a common plasticizer chemical (DBP) caused worse damage to male reproductive health than either substance alone. The combination significantly reduced sperm quality, lowered antioxidant defenses, and damaged testicular tissue over 60 days. These findings are concerning because people are often exposed to both nanoplastics and plasticizer chemicals at the same time through food packaging and everyday products.

Manifestation of polystyrene microplastic accumulation in brain with emphasis on morphometric and histopathological changes in limbic areas of Swiss albino mice

Mice exposed to polystyrene microplastics showed cognitive impairment, anxiety-like behavior, and measurable brain damage, particularly in the limbic system regions responsible for memory and emotion. The microplastics accumulated in the brain and caused neuron loss in the hippocampus, along with structural damage to the cortex, amygdala, and hypothalamus. This study provides direct evidence that microplastics can reach the brain and cause physical changes that affect behavior and mental function.

Teratological, neurochemical and histomorphic changes in the limbic areas of F1 mice progeny due to co-parental polystyrene nanoplastic exposure

Researchers exposed parent mice to polystyrene nanoplastics before and during pregnancy and found that offspring exhibited skeletal and visceral malformations, impaired neonatal reflexes, learning deficits, and structural brain changes — including reduced hippocampal neurons — demonstrating transgenerational neurodevelopmental harm from nanoplastic exposure.

Comprehensive Assessment of Microplastic Toxicity in a Diabetic Model with Emphasis on Neurological Consequences

Microplastics Aided Augmentation of Antibiotic Resistance in WWTPs: A Global Concern

Manifestation of polystyrene microplastic accumulation in tissues of vital organs including brain with histological and behaviour analysis on Swiss albino mice

Researchers exposed rats to polystyrene microplastics and examined accumulation in vital organs including the brain, liver, kidney, and gut, finding tissue-specific deposition that was associated with behavioral changes and organ-level pathological effects.

Chemical Cocktail: Understanding PSNP and DBP Impact on Testicular Health of Swiss albino mice

A 60-day study in male mice found that polystyrene nanoplastics and the common plasticizer di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) each impaired sperm quality and testicular structure, but combining the two caused even greater damage — including tubular degeneration, oxidative stress, and structural lesions — than either substance alone. This suggests that real-world simultaneous exposures to nanoplastics and chemical additives they carry could pose compounded reproductive health risks.

Stress (Cortisol) and Hepatotoxic Effects of Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastics in Swiss Albino Mice: A Comparative Study