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Papers
1,605 resultsMapping Microplastics in Humans: Analysis of Polymer Types, and Shapes in Food and Drinking Water—A Systematic Review
This systematic review mapped the types and shapes of microplastics found in food, drinking water, and human tissue samples. Polyethylene and polypropylene — common in food packaging — were the most frequently detected plastics, and fiber-shaped particles were especially prevalent in human samples.
Microplastics in three types of human arteries detected by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS)
Researchers detected microplastics in all 17 human artery samples tested, including coronary arteries, carotid arteries, and the aorta. Arteries with atherosclerotic plaques (hardened, narrowed areas) contained significantly more microplastics than plaque-free arteries. This suggests that microplastic accumulation may be associated with atherosclerosis, the buildup of fatty deposits in arteries that is a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes.
Features, Potential Invasion Pathways, and Reproductive Health Risks of Microplastics Detected in Human Uterus
Researchers found microplastics in the uterine lining of 22 women, identifying common plastics like polyamide, polyurethane, and PET in sizes ranging from 2 to 200 micrometers. In mouse experiments, microplastic exposure led to reduced fertility, abnormal offspring sex ratios, and significant uterine inflammation. These findings raise serious concerns about the potential impact of microplastic contamination on female reproductive health and pregnancy outcomes.
The impaired response of nasal epithelial cells to microplastic stimulation in asthma and COPD
Researchers exposed nasal lining cells from healthy people, asthma patients, and COPD patients to polyamide microplastic fibers and found that diseased airways responded very differently than healthy ones. Asthma cells showed changes in cholesterol metabolism and stress responses, while COPD cells showed altered immune cell movement and signaling. This suggests that people with existing respiratory conditions are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of inhaled microplastic fibers.
Health risk assessment of microplastics contamination in the daily diet of South Asian countries
This meta-analysis found that South Asians ingest an estimated 508-2,280 microplastic particles per person per day through food, with salt, fish, milk, and drinking water showing hazard scores above global averages. High-risk polymers including PVC, polyurethane, and polyamide were identified, with annual microplastic ingestion rates reaching up to 36.3 grams per person through fish consumption alone.
The effects of exposure to microplastics on female reproductive health and pregnancy outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis
This meta-analysis pools data from multiple studies to assess how microplastic exposure affects female reproductive health and pregnancy outcomes. The findings suggest that microplastic accumulation may be linked to adverse effects on fertility and pregnancy, highlighting an important and underexplored area of concern for women's health.
Human exposure to PM10 microplastics in indoor air
Scientists measured airborne microplastics in homes and car cabins, finding that 94% of particles were smaller than 10 micrometers, small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs. The estimated daily inhalation of these tiny particles was about 68,000 per day, roughly 100 times higher than previous estimates that only counted larger particles.
Rapid egestion of microplastics in juvenile barramundi: No evidence of gut retention or tissue translocation
This study found that juvenile barramundi fish rapidly egest (pass) microplastics through their digestive system with no evidence of the particles moving into surrounding tissues. The results suggest that for larger microplastic particles, the gut may act as an effective barrier in fish, though this does not eliminate concerns about smaller nanoplastics or chemical leaching.
Microplastics exacerbate ferroptosis via mitochondrial reactive oxygen species-mediated autophagy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Researchers found that microplastics worsen chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by triggering a chain reaction in lung cells: the plastics damage mitochondria (the cell's energy centers), which produces harmful molecules that activate a self-destructive process called autophagy-dependent ferroptosis. Lung tissue from COPD patients contained significantly higher concentrations of polystyrene microplastics than healthy controls. When scientists blocked this destructive pathway in mice, it reduced the excessive inflammation and prevented COPD flare-ups caused by microplastic exposure.
The clinical relevance of microplastic exposure on colorectal cancer: A systematic review
This systematic review of four studies found that microplastic accumulation in colorectal cancer tissue (25.9-32.2 particles/g) was significantly higher than in healthy controls, with polyamide, polycarbonate, and polypropylene as the most common polymers detected. While a causal relationship has not been established, the evidence points to microplastics as a potential environmental factor in colorectal cancer development.
A systematic review of the effects of nanoplastics on fish
This systematic review examines how nanoplastics (extremely small plastic particles) affect fish, including their ability to cross biological barriers and accumulate in tissues. The findings are relevant to human health because fish are a major dietary protein source, and understanding how plastics move through aquatic food chains helps us assess our own exposure risks.
Microplastics in Antarctica - A plastic legacy in the Antarctic snow?
Microplastics were found in snow from some of the most remote places on Earth, including Union Glacier and the South Pole in Antarctica. Using advanced detection methods capable of identifying particles as small as 11 micrometers, researchers found that 95% of the microplastics were smaller than 50 micrometers, suggesting previous studies in Antarctica likely underestimated contamination levels. The dominant plastic types -- polyamide, PET, and polyethylene -- point to a global atmospheric transport of plastic pollution.
Microplastics and nanoplastics increase major adverse cardiac events in patients with myocardial infarction
In a study of 142 heart attack patients, researchers found microplastics and nanoplastics in the coronary blood of nearly all participants, with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) detected in over 95% of samples. Higher PVC levels were linked to increased inflammatory markers and a significantly greater risk of major heart complications over the 31.5-month follow-up period. For every 10-unit increase in PVC concentration, the risk of a major cardiac event more than doubled.
Effects of different microplastic types on soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and bacterial communities
A 230-day experiment tested six types of microplastics in soil and found that each type differently altered soil moisture, chemistry, enzyme activity, and microbial communities. Biodegradable plastic (PHA) caused the most significant disruption to beneficial soil bacteria, which matters for human health because soil microbe changes can affect crop nutrition and food safety.
Identification and analysis of microplastics in para-tumor and tumor of human prostate
Researchers detected microplastics in both tumor and surrounding tissue from 22 prostate cancer patients, with polystyrene found exclusively in tumor tissue. Larger microplastic particles were more common in tumors, and higher microplastic levels correlated with more advanced cancer stages, suggesting a potential link between microplastic accumulation and prostate cancer progression.
Recycling and Degradation of Polyamides
This review covers methods for recycling and breaking down polyamide (nylon), a widely used engineering plastic whose growing production is creating serious pollution problems. Understanding how nylon degrades is relevant to the microplastics issue because polyamide fibers are one of the most common types of microplastics found in water, soil, and even human tissues.
Micro(nano)plastics in human urine: A surprising contrast between Chongqing's urban and rural regions
Scientists detected micro- and nanoplastics in human urine samples from both urban and rural areas in China, with city dwellers showing higher levels and more types of plastic particles. The findings suggest that everyday habits like using plastic toys and personal care products contribute to the plastics found inside our bodies, and that people in urban environments face greater exposure.
Ecological risk assessment of microplastics and mesoplastics in six common fishes from the Bay of Bengal Coast
Researchers found microplastics in the digestive tracts and muscle tissue of six commonly eaten fish species from the Bay of Bengal, with fiber-shaped particles making up over 95% of what was found. This contamination in edible fish muscle tissue means that people who eat these species are likely ingesting microplastics directly.
From wastewater to sludge: The role of microplastics in shaping anaerobic digestion performance and antibiotic resistance gene dynamics
This review examines how microplastics in wastewater treatment plants affect the anaerobic digestion process used to break down sewage sludge, finding that certain plastic types can either boost or reduce biogas production depending on conditions. Importantly, microplastics increased the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes by up to 514%, raising serious concerns that wastewater treatment -- meant to protect public health -- may instead become a breeding ground for antibiotic-resistant bacteria when microplastics are present.
Integration of machine learning and meta-analysis reveals the behaviors and mechanisms of antibiotic adsorption on microplastics
Combining meta-analysis of 6,805 records with machine learning, this study found that polyamide microplastics have the highest capacity to adsorb antibiotics via hydrogen bonding, with chlortetracycline showing the strongest affinity to microplastic surfaces. Particle size, pH, and pollutant concentrations were the key factors governing adsorption, and the study deployed a predictive tool for estimating antibiotic loading on microplastics.
Urinary microplastic contaminants in primary school children: Associations with behavioral development
A study of 1,000 primary school children in China found that higher levels of microplastics in their urine were associated with more emotional problems, conduct issues, hyperactivity, and difficulty with peer relationships. This is one of the first studies to link microplastic exposure in children to behavioral development, raising concerns about the neurodevelopmental effects of these widespread pollutants.
Microplastics and phthalate esters in yogurt and buttermilk samples: characterization and health risk assessment
Researchers tested yogurt and buttermilk products in Iran and found microplastics in every sample, along with phthalate chemicals that can leach from plastic packaging. The levels of one phthalate (DEHP) were high enough to potentially pose a cancer risk for adults and adolescents, highlighting dairy products as a meaningful source of microplastic and chemical exposure.
Evaluating the impacts of microplastics on agricultural soil physical, chemical properties, and toxic metal availability: An emerging concern for sustainable agriculture
This study tested how five common types of microplastics affect soil properties and heavy metal availability in agricultural soil over 90 days. Microplastics changed soil structure, nutrient levels, and water-holding capacity, and actually reduced the availability of toxic heavy metals at higher plastic concentrations -- highlighting the complex ways plastic pollution is altering the farmland that produces our food.
Global plastic footprint: unveiling property trends, environmental fate, and emerging threats of microplastic and nanoplastics pollution across ecosystems
This large-scale review of 228 studies maps how microplastics and nanoplastics spread through marine, freshwater, soil, and air environments worldwide. The research reveals emerging threats including plastics carrying disease-causing pathogens, interfering with ocean carbon capture, and accelerating ice melting, all of which have indirect consequences for human health and food safety.