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Papers
427 resultsMicroplastics 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.
Mechanisms of microplastic generation from polymer-coated controlled-release fertilizers (PC-CRFs)
This study investigated how the plastic coatings on slow-release fertilizers break down and release microplastics into soil. Significantly more microplastic particles were released in soil conditions than in water alone, and wet-dry cycles accelerated the breakdown, meaning agricultural soils receiving these fertilizers may be accumulating substantial amounts of microplastic pollution.
Association of mixed exposure to microplastics with sperm dysfunction: a multi-site study in China
In a study of 113 men across three regions in China, microplastics were detected in all semen and urine samples tested, with eight different plastic types identified. The presence of certain microplastics, particularly PTFE (Teflon), was associated with reduced sperm quality, suggesting that microplastic exposure may pose risks to male fertility.
Raman Microspectroscopy evidence of microplastics in human semen
Researchers found microplastic fragments in six out of ten human semen samples from men in a polluted region of southern Italy, identifying common plastics like polypropylene, polyethylene, and PET. The study proposes that microplastics enter semen through the reproductive tract after being ingested or inhaled, raising concerns about potential effects on male fertility.
Fate of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in zebrafish liver cells: Influence of protein corona on transport, oxidative stress, and glycolipid metabolism
Scientists studied how proteins in biological fluids coat nanoplastic particles (forming a "protein corona") and how this coating changes the way cells take up and process the plastics. The protein coating actually increased how many nanoplastics entered liver cells and made them harder to clear out, suggesting that once nanoplastics enter the bloodstream, the body's own proteins may make the contamination harder to eliminate.
Microplastic contamination in commercial food and drink products and associated risk of potential human intake in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Researchers tested 112 food and drink products from markets in Saudi Arabia and found microplastics in all of them, with tea bags containing the highest levels at over 600 particles per bag. Based on typical consumption patterns, tea bag users face the greatest daily microplastic intake, followed by bottled water drinkers, underscoring how common foods and beverages are a significant source of human microplastic exposure.
Investigation of microplastic pollution index in the urban surface water: A case study in west Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India
Researchers found microplastics in surface water and water treatment plants in the West Godavari region of India, with common types including polypropylene and PVC. Risk assessments showed that the type of plastic polymer poses a greater health risk than the amount of microplastics present. The study estimated daily, annual, and lifetime intake levels for people using these water sources.
Cross-platform detection of microplastics in human biological tissues: Comparing spectroscopic and chromatographic approaches
Scientists compared two different analytical methods for detecting microplastics in human urine and uterine tissue samples from pregnant women and found that using both methods together reveals a more complete picture than either alone. The study detected multiple types of plastic particles in biological samples, confirming that microplastics accumulate in human reproductive tissues.
Notable ecological risks of microplastics to Minjiang River ecosystem over headwater to upstream in Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
Scientists measured microplastic pollution along 291 kilometers of the Minjiang River on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and found levels increased near more populated areas. The most common types were polyethylene and polypropylene fragments smaller than 500 micrometers. Risk assessments showed medium to very high pollution levels in the river water, raising concerns about contamination even in remote highland regions.
Microplastics Increase Soil pH and Decrease Microbial Activities as a Function of Microplastic Shape, Polymer Type, and Exposure Time
Researchers tested twelve different types of microplastics in soil and found that their effects on soil health depended heavily on the shape, plastic type, and how long they were present. Foam and fragment shapes raised soil pH the most, while polyethylene foam increased soil respiration, and several types reduced the activity of important soil enzymes. These findings help explain why microplastic studies often show conflicting results, since the specific characteristics of the plastic matter as much as its presence.
Occurrence of Polyethylene Terephthalate and Polycarbonate Microplastics in Infant and Adult Feces
Researchers measured microplastic levels in the stool of infants and adults in New York and found that infants had significantly higher concentrations of PET microplastics, about ten times more than adults. The likely sources include plastic baby bottles, food packaging, and toys that infants frequently put in their mouths. This study provides some of the first direct evidence that babies are exposed to more microplastics than adults, raising questions about potential health effects during early development.
Effect of bisphenol A on the neurological system: a review update
This review summarizes recent research on how bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical found in many plastic products and food containers, affects the brain and nervous system. Studies show BPA exposure can cause oxidative stress, damage brain cells, disrupt neurotransmitters, and may increase the risk of neurological diseases like Alzheimer's and stroke. Children and developing fetuses appear to be especially vulnerable to BPA's harmful neurological effects.
Preliminary characterization of microplastics in beef hamburgers
Microplastics were found in all ten beef hamburger samples tested, ranging from 200 to over 30,000 particles per kilogram. The most common types were polyethylene and polypropylene likely from processing equipment and packaging, highlighting that processed meat products are another route of microplastic exposure in the human diet.
The pollution of microplastics in sediments of the Yangtze River Basin: Occurrence, distribution characteristics, and basin-scale multilevel ecological risk assessment
This study mapped microplastic pollution throughout the Yangtze River Basin in China and found an average of 611 particles per kilogram of sediment, with wide variation across locations. Smaller microplastics under 1 millimeter and fibrous shapes were most common, and contamination was closely linked to population density and human activities. The findings are concerning because the Yangtze River system provides drinking water and food resources to hundreds of millions of people.
Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in major urban lakes of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Researchers measured microplastic contamination in three major urban lakes in Dhaka, Bangladesh, finding plastic particles in the water, sediment, and fish at all sites. The dominant plastics were common consumer types like polyethylene and PVC, with sizes mostly under 100 micrometers. Since these lakes are in a densely populated urban area, the findings raise concerns about microplastic exposure for the local population through both water and fish consumption.
Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in functionally delineated hydraulic zones in selected rivers, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Researchers mapped microplastic distribution across different flow zones in two urban rivers in South Africa, finding that slow-flowing pools and backwaters accumulate significantly more settled microplastics than fast-flowing areas. Polyethylene and polypropylene fibers and fragments were the most common types found. The study helps explain where microplastics concentrate in rivers, which is important for understanding exposure risks at drinking water intake points downstream.
Microplastic exposure in daily life and the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension: A study on the association between environmental pollutants and maternal-fetal health outcomes
In a study of pregnant women, those with pregnancy-induced high blood pressure had 1.46 times more microplastics in their umbilical cords than healthy pregnant women, with polyethylene and polycarbonate being especially elevated. Microplastic exposure was linked to use of plastic containers and takeout meals, and higher levels were associated with worse outcomes for newborns. While this preliminary study has limitations, it suggests that everyday microplastic exposure during pregnancy may be connected to dangerous blood pressure complications.
Algal bloom-mediated microplastic dispersion in coastal areas of West Africa: Integrated insights and risk projections from molecular models and remote-sensed evaluations
This study used satellite data and molecular models to examine how algal blooms along the West African coast can trap and transport microplastics. The models predict that certain types of microplastics, particularly polycarbonate, bind strongly to algal proteins, meaning blooms could concentrate plastics and increase exposure risks for marine life. Since algal blooms are becoming more frequent due to climate change, this pathway could amplify how microplastics move through ocean food chains and ultimately reach people through seafood.
Elevated Micro- and Nanoplastics Detected in Preterm Human Placentae
This study found that placentas from preterm births contained 28% higher concentrations of micro- and nanoplastics compared to full-term births, with certain plastic types like PVC and polycarbonate strongly associated with earlier delivery. Specific plastics were also linked to lower birth weight and shorter pregnancies. These findings suggest that microplastic exposure during pregnancy may be a contributing factor to preterm birth, which is a leading cause of infant health complications.
Microporous carbon derived from waste plastics for efficient adsorption of tetracycline: Adsorption mechanism and application potentials
Scientists converted waste PET plastic bottles into a porous carbon material that can remove 100% of the antibiotic tetracycline from water. The material worked effectively across a wide range of water conditions and could be reused multiple times. This approach offers a double benefit: it repurposes plastic waste that would otherwise become microplastic pollution while also cleaning antibiotics from water, addressing two environmental threats at once.
Rethinking microplastics as a diverse contaminant suite
Researchers argue that the term microplastics oversimplifies what is actually a hugely diverse class of contaminants varying in size, shape, polymer type, and chemical additives. Treating all microplastics as a single pollutant leads to studies and regulations that may miss critical differences in how various particles behave and affect organisms. The study calls for a more nuanced approach that treats microplastics as a contaminant suite, similar to how pesticides or pharmaceuticals are categorized.
Microplastics Entry into the Blood by Infusion Therapy: Few but a Direct Pathway
Researchers tested infusion therapy equipment including glass bottles, plastic bottles, plastic bags, and tubes for microplastic contamination. They found microplastics in about 12% of samples, with particles ranging from 4 to 148 micrometers in size. Although the amounts were small, the study shows that IV infusions could be a direct route for microplastics to enter the bloodstream, which may partly explain why microplastics have been found in human blood.