Papers

Advances in Drug Targeting, Drug Delivery, and Nanotechnology Applications: Therapeutic Significance in Cancer Treatment

This review covers advances in targeted drug delivery using nanotechnology, including nanoparticles and liposomes designed to release medications precisely where needed in the body. While focused on cancer treatment, the drug delivery technologies discussed are relevant to understanding how nanoscale plastic particles may also travel through the body and accumulate in specific tissues.

An evaluation of a hepatotoxicity risk induced by the microplastic polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) using HepG2/THP-1 co-culture model

Researchers tested the liver toxicity of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microplastics using a lab model combining human liver and immune cells. The microplastics triggered inflammation and oxidative stress at concentrations as low as 0.1 mg/mL, activating pathways linked to cell death and chronic disease. Since the liver is a primary organ where microplastics accumulate after entering the body, these findings suggest that long-term microplastic exposure could contribute to liver damage and inflammation-driven diseases.

Epithelial barrier hypothesis: Effect of the external exposome on the microbiome and epithelial barriers in allergic disease

This review proposes the 'epithelial barrier hypothesis,' which suggests that modern environmental exposures, including microplastics, air pollution, and processed food additives, are damaging the protective barriers of our skin, gut, and airways. When these barriers break down, foreign substances and bacteria can enter the body and trigger allergic and inflammatory diseases, which have been increasing rapidly in recent decades. The research suggests microplastics may be one of many environmental factors driving the rise in conditions like asthma, food allergies, and eczema.

Lifestyle Changes and Industrialization in the Development of Allergic Diseases

This paper describes the "Epithelial Barrier Theory," which proposes that toxic substances in everyday products -- including microplastics, detergents, and air pollution -- damage the protective linings of our skin, lungs, and gut. This damage disrupts the body's microbiome and triggers inflammation that may help explain the global rise in allergies and other immune-related diseases over recent decades.

The effect of different types of microplastic and acute cadmium exposure on the Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamarck, 1819)

This study examined how different types of microplastics, alone and combined with cadmium, affect Mediterranean mussels that are widely consumed as seafood. Exposure to microplastics and cadmium caused oxidative stress, tissue damage, and neurotoxicity in the mussels, with combined exposure being worse than either pollutant alone. The health risk calculations for human consumers exceeded safety limits, suggesting that microplastic-contaminated mussels could pose a real food safety concern.

Genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of polyethylene microplastics on human peripheral blood lymphocytes

Researchers tested whether polyethylene microplastics cause genetic damage to human blood cells using a specialized laboratory assay. The study found that even low concentrations of microplastics significantly increased markers of genomic instability, including micronucleus formation and other indicators of DNA damage. This is among the first studies to demonstrate that microplastics have genotoxic potential in human cells, though the particles did not appear to kill the cells outright.

A Survey on Environmental Protective and Risk Factors and Awareness Related to Epithelial Barrier Integrity, Microbiome and Allergic Diseases

This study developed new questionnaires to assess environmental exposures — including microplastics, air pollutants, and detergents — that damage epithelial barriers and contribute to allergic diseases. The epithelial barrier theory links these exposures to microbial dysbiosis and the sharp rise in allergic, autoimmune, and neuropsychiatric conditions since the 1960s.

Microplastic pollution of drinking water in a metropolis

Researchers analyzed 100 drinking water samples from various sources across Istanbul and found microplastics in every sample, with concentrations ranging from 10 to 390 particles per liter. Eight different polymer types were identified, including polyethylene, polypropylene, and PVC, in both fiber and fragment forms. The findings indicate that drinking water in major metropolitan areas is a consistent pathway for human microplastic exposure.

Investigation of the toxic effects of different polystyrene micro-and nanoplastics on microalgae Chlorella vulgaris by analysis of cell viability, pigment content, oxidative stress and ultrastructural changes

Researchers examined the toxic effects of different-sized polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics on the microalga Chlorella vulgaris in long-term exposure tests. The study found that smaller particles (20 and 50 nm) caused greater reductions in cell viability and chlorophyll concentration than larger ones, with surface functionalization also influencing toxicity and ultrastructural damage.

The External Exposome and Allergies: From the Perspective of the Epithelial Barrier Hypothesis

This review examines how environmental changes including air pollution, global warming, and shifting dietary habits damage epithelial barriers in the body, contributing to increased rates of allergies and inflammation. The authors highlight the need for public awareness and government policies to address the health effects of environmental exposures on current and future generations.

Microplastic pollution in wild and aquacultured Mediterranean mussels from the Sea of Marmara: Abundance, characteristics, and health risk estimations

Researchers compared microplastic contamination in wild and commercially farmed mussels from the Sea of Marmara in Turkey. They found microplastics in all mussel samples, with wild mussels containing somewhat different types and amounts compared to aquacultured ones, and fibers being the dominant form in both. The study estimates that regular consumption of these mussels represents a measurable pathway for human exposure to microplastics through seafood.

Effects of microplastics and mercury on manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum: Feeding rate, immunomodulation, histopathology and oxidative stress

Researchers exposed Manila clams to polyethylene microplastics and mercury, both individually and in combination, to study their effects on feeding, immune response, and tissue health. The study found that while microplastics were ingested and spread to various tissues, they played a negligible role in transporting mercury into the clams. Both pollutants independently reduced filtration rates, impaired immune function, and caused tissue damage in the gills and digestive glands.

The combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and benzoanthracene on Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum

Researchers studied the combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and a toxic organic pollutant (benzo[a]anthracene) on Manila clams. The study found that when the pollutant was present alongside microplastics, the clams showed more severe stress responses than from either contaminant alone. Evidence indicates that microplastics can act as carriers for harmful chemicals, potentially amplifying their toxic effects on marine shellfish.

Evaluation of Health Risks Attributed to Toxic Trace Elements and Selenium in Farmed Mediterranean Mussels from Türkiye and Bulgaria

Researchers measured levels of selenium and toxic trace metals including cadmium, mercury, and lead in farmed mussels from the coasts of Turkey and Bulgaria. While most metal concentrations were below safety thresholds, some samples showed elevated cadmium levels that could pose health risks with regular consumption. The study emphasizes the importance of monitoring contaminant levels in farmed shellfish to protect consumer health.

A Comprehensive Identification, Distribution and Health Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Natural Mussels from the Shoreline of the Sea of Marmara, Türkiye

Researchers collected 322 mussels from across the Sea of Marmara coastline in Turkey and found microplastic contamination in all samples, with fibers being the most common shape and polyethylene the dominant polymer. Locations near river mouths and areas under heavy human influence showed the highest contamination levels. Risk assessment calculations indicated that children face the greatest exposure through seafood consumption, with an estimated annual intake of 1,940 microplastic particles based on 100 grams of daily consumption.

The multiple responses of Mytilus galloprovincialis in the multi-stressor scenario: Impacts of low pH, low dissolved oxygen, and microplastics

Researchers exposed Mediterranean mussels to the combined stressors of low pH, low dissolved oxygen, and microplastics for 15 days. While whole-organism functions like respiration were unaffected, the study found significant cellular-level impacts, suggesting that microplastics interact with ocean acidification and deoxygenation to cause subtle but measurable stress in marine invertebrates.

Spatial Dynamics and Ecological Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Littoral Sediments of the Sea of Marmara, Türkiye

Researchers conducted the first comprehensive survey of microplastic pollution in shoreline sediments across the entire Sea of Marmara and Canakkale Strait in Turkey. The study found microplastic abundances ranging from 199 to 1,286 items per kilogram, dominated by fibers and fragments, with polyethylene as the most common polymer type and blue as the most prevalent color.

Microplastic exposure reduces multi-trophic biomass yield in a freshwater integrated aquaculture system

Scientists tested how tiny plastic particles affect a fish farming system that grows rainbow trout, mussels, and duckweed together. They found that when both the water and fish food contained microplastics, the overall system produced less food than normal. This matters because these farming systems are designed to efficiently produce food for people, and microplastic pollution could reduce our food supply while potentially contaminating the fish and plants we eat.

Microplastic Accumulation and Soil Quality Changes Under Varying Plastic Mulching Durations in the Mediterranean Region

Researchers studied microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils across 15 sites in Türkiye that had used plastic mulching for 5, 10, and 30 years. They found that longer mulching durations led to significantly higher microplastic concentrations, with soil quality declining as plastic particles accumulated. The study suggests that decades of plastic mulch use degrades soil health by altering physical, chemical, and biological properties.

UV‑driven surface oxidation of PVC microplastics and their interaction with emerging pollutants

Micro- and nanoplastic pollution in urban influenced aquatic environments: Sources, pathways, and remediation strategies

This review examines the sources, transport pathways, and environmental fate of microplastics and nanoplastics in urban aquatic environments, finding that wastewater treatment plants remove only 40–95% of microplastics with much lower efficiency for nanoplastics, making them a persistent source of aquatic contamination.

Evaluation of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial communities on microplastic‐associated biofilms in marine and freshwater environments

Researchers analyzed microbial biofilm communities on microplastic surfaces in both marine and freshwater environments, finding that plastic-associated biofilms harbor distinct prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities with potential roles in plastic biodegradation.

Toxicity Study of Textile Materials from Natural and Synthetic Polymers Using Bioassay Techniques: Sperm Motility Inhibition Test and Daphnia magna Acute Immobility Test

Eleven textile materials made from natural and synthetic polymers were assessed for toxicity using sperm motility inhibition tests with bull spermatozoa and Daphnia magna acute immobility tests. The comparative analysis found both methods provide useful but complementary information on textile extract toxicity.

The multistressor effect of pH reduction, microplastic and lanthanum on sea urchin Arbacia lixula

This study examined how combined stressors of reduced pH, microplastic exposure, and lead contamination affect aquatic organisms in a multi-stressor experiment. The results showed synergistic toxic effects that exceeded those of individual stressors, underscoring the importance of multi-stressor frameworks in ecotoxicology.