Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

The Effects of Microplastics on Musculoskeletal Disorder; A Narrative Review

This review summarizes emerging research on how microplastics affect bones and muscles. Studies have shown that microplastics can disrupt the cells responsible for bone growth and repair, and in muscles they can reduce fiber density, impair blood vessel formation, and cause tissue wasting. While research is still limited, the findings suggest microplastics could contribute to musculoskeletal problems, and the authors call for more studies using human tissues.

2024 Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential threats of environmental microplastics to the skeletal system: current insights and future directions

This review summarizes emerging evidence that micro- and nanoplastics may reach the skeletal system through the bloodstream and accumulate in bone tissue. Researchers highlight potential effects on bone-forming and bone-resorbing cells, which could disrupt normal bone maintenance. The study calls attention to an underexplored area of microplastic health research and outlines directions for future investigation.

2025 Frontiers in Endocrinology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Bridging relevance between microplastics, human health and bone metabolism: Emerging threats and research directions

Researchers reviewed how microplastics — tiny plastic fragments that accumulate in tissues throughout the body — may disrupt bone metabolism by triggering inflammation, oxidative stress, and hormonal interference, raising concern that widespread microplastic exposure could contribute to bone diseases like osteoporosis.

2024 Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on the bones: a comprehensive review

This comprehensive review examines the growing evidence that micro- and nanoplastics can affect bone health, with researchers recently detecting plastic particles in human bone tissue for the first time. Lab studies show that microplastics can trigger inflammation, increase bone-resorbing cell activity, impair bone-forming cells, and weaken bone structure in animal models. While direct links to human bone conditions like osteoporosis have not yet been confirmed, the accumulating evidence suggests that microplastic exposure may represent a new risk factor for skeletal health.

2025 Osteoporosis International 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in human skeletal tissues: Presence, distribution and health implications

This study is the first to find microplastics in human bones, cartilage, and spinal discs, with the highest concentrations found in spinal discs. The most common plastics detected were polypropylene and polystyrene, and animal experiments confirmed that microplastics can reach skeletal tissues through the bloodstream. Exposure triggered inflammatory markers in the blood, suggesting microplastics in bones could contribute to skeletal health problems.

2025 Environment International 61 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as an emerging driver of osteoarthritis: a translational synthesis of environmental exposure, patho-mechanisms, and public health implications

A translational synthesis of clinical and experimental data examined the role of microplastic exposure in osteoarthritis (OA) development, finding evidence that MPs bioaccumulate in joint tissues and may promote inflammation and oxidative damage that disrupts cartilage homeostasis. The review identified MP exposure as a plausible but underexplored contributor to OA progression.

2025 Journal of Translational Medicine
Article Tier 2

[Effects of microplastics exposure in development of mineralized tissues].

This review examined evidence that microplastic exposure affects the formation and development of mineralized tissues including bone and teeth, finding that MP-induced oxidative stress and inflammation may disrupt mineralization processes and raise concern for skeletal health from environmental plastic exposure.

2025 PubMed
Article Tier 2

Impact of Microplastics on Human Health through the Consumption of Seafood: A Review

This review synthesizes evidence on how microplastics in seafood pose health risks to humans upon ingestion, detailing how MPs spread through the digestive system to other organs and cause toxicological effects including oxidative stress, immune disruption, and metabolic changes.

2025 Journal of Clinical Medical and Experimental Images
Article Tier 2

Impact of microplastics on human health and aquatic species

This review examines the harmful effects of microplastics on marine life and human health, covering physical injury, oxidative stress, and disrupted immune responses in fish and other organisms. Researchers found that these impacts can cascade through marine food webs, affecting biodiversity and ecosystem function. The study also highlights growing concerns about human exposure to microplastics through seafood and other pathways.

2024 E3S Web of Conferences 4 citations
Review Tier 2

Systematic Literature Review: The Presence of Microplastics in the Body and their Impact on Human Health

This systematic review examined evidence on where microplastics accumulate in the human body and what health effects they may cause. Researchers found that microplastics have been detected in various human tissues and can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact. Evidence indicates that microplastics may trigger oxidative stress and inflammation, with potential effects on the digestive, respiratory, reproductive, endocrine, and nervous systems.

2025 Journal of Ecohumanism 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification and analysis of microplastics in human lower limb joints

Researchers found microplastics in the joint tissue of all 45 patients undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery, identifying nine different types of plastic. Hip joints contained more microplastics than knee joints, and higher concentrations were linked to increased cellular stress responses. This is one of the first studies to confirm that microplastics accumulate in human joints, raising questions about their potential role in joint disease.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 71 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental exposure to microplastics: An overview on possible human health effects

This review examines the potential health effects of human exposure to microplastics through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact. Researchers found that microplastic exposure may cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune system disruption, with the body's inability to break down synthetic particles potentially leading to chronic inflammation. The study emphasizes that while evidence of harm is growing, microplastic toxicity varies greatly depending on particle properties, concentration, and individual susceptibility.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 2348 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and exercise: impacts on performance and physiological health

This review examines how microplastic exposure may affect athletic performance and physiological health, discussing evidence that MPs can enter the body through exercise-related inhalation and ingestion and may impair respiratory function, endocrine signaling, and inflammation pathways relevant to sports performance.

2025 Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
Review Tier 2

Potential Health Impact of Microplastics: A Review of Environmental Distribution, Human Exposure, and Toxic Effects

This review summarizes existing research on how microplastics are found throughout the environment and in human samples, entering the body through food, air, and skin contact. Lab studies in cells and animals show microplastics can cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, immune reactions, brain toxicity, and reproductive harm, and early human health data links microplastic exposure to several chronic diseases.

2023 Environment & Health 519 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts of microplastics on immunity

This review examines the growing evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics can affect the immune system, covering studies in marine organisms, mammals, and human cell lines. Researchers found that these particles can trigger inflammation, alter immune cell function, and disrupt immune signaling pathways. The study underscores the need for more immunological research to fully understand how plastic particle exposure may compromise immune health in humans.

2022 Frontiers in Toxicology 154 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics occurrence, contamination, and effects on human health—a critical review

This critical review examined the occurrence of microplastics in the food chain and their potential effects on human health. The authors found that microplastics enter the body through food packaging and bioaccumulation in animals and plants, and may contribute to oxidative stress and immune system disruption. The review emphasizes the need for greater understanding of microplastic toxicity mechanisms in humans.

2024 Microplastics 3 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

A Systematic Review on the Impact of Micro-Nanoplastics Exposure on Human Health and Diseases

This systematic review summarizes existing research on how micro and nanoplastic exposure affects human health and may contribute to disease. The evidence suggests that these tiny particles can enter the body through food, water, air, and even cosmetics, potentially causing inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruptions to the immune and reproductive systems.

2022 Biointerface Research in Applied Chemistry 18 citations
Article Tier 2

An overview of research on the association between microplastics and central nervous system disorders

This review explores the growing body of evidence linking microplastic exposure to central nervous system disorders. Researchers found that microplastics can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption, then accumulate in neural tissues where they trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and neuronal damage. The study aims to provide a scientific foundation for assessing the public health risks of microplastic exposure on brain health.

2025 Frontiers in Public Health 2 citations
Article Tier 2

The Impact of Microplastic on Human Health

This review synthesized evidence on microplastic exposure pathways and health effects in humans, finding that microplastics enter the body via ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact and are associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, genotoxicity, and endocrine disruption.

2021 Current Biotechnology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Adverse Outcome Phenomena and Toxicity Mechanisms of Micro and Nanoplastics in Human Health

This review examines the growing evidence that micro- and nanoplastics can enter the human body through food, water, and air, and may contribute to harmful biological effects. Researchers found that these tiny particles can trigger oxidative stress, inflammation, and disruption of hormonal and immune systems in laboratory studies. The study highlights the need for a unified research approach to better understand how microplastic exposure may affect long-term human health.

2024 Nano LIFE 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic impact on bone microenvironment: A snapshot from murine bone cells.

Researchers investigated how nanoplastics affect the bone microenvironment using murine bone cell models, examining effects on osteoblast and osteoclast activity that regulate bone formation and resorption. Nanoplastic exposure disrupted bone cell function, raising concerns about skeletal health impacts from daily plastic particle exposure.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Review Tier 2

Microplastics and Human Health: A Comprehensive Review on Exposure Pathways, Toxicity, and Emerging Risks

This comprehensive review examines microplastic exposure pathways in humans, methods of detection, and the potential toxic effects on various biological systems. The study highlights growing evidence that microplastics can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact, and may affect multiple organ systems, though significant uncertainties remain about long-term health outcomes.

2026 Microplastics
Article Tier 2

From Environment to Body: Microplastics' Sources, Pathways, and Health Repercussions

This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of how microplastics enter the human body through food, water, air, and skin contact. Researchers found evidence that these particles may cause physical damage, chemical toxicity, inflammation, and oxidative stress in biological systems. The study highlights significant gaps in understanding the long-term health implications of chronic microplastic exposure in humans.

2024 Journal of Education Health and Sport 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on the immune system: How much should we worry?

This review examines how microplastics may affect the human immune system, noting that people are mainly exposed through food and breathing. While early research shows microplastics can trigger inflammation and immune responses in lab and animal studies, the authors stress that more research is needed to understand what this means for human health at real-world exposure levels.

2025 Immunology Letters 11 citations