Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene Microplastics Exposure Aggravates Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression via the NF‐κB and TGF‐β Signaling Pathways

Researchers detected polystyrene microplastics in clear cell renal cell carcinoma tissue samples and showed in cell culture and animal models that microplastic exposure aggravated cancer progression by activating NF-κB and TGF-β signaling pathways that promote tumor growth and spread.

2025 Advanced Science
Article Tier 2

MicroRaman spectroscopy detects the presence of microplastics in human urine and kidney tissue

Scientists confirmed for the first time that microplastics accumulate in human kidney tissue, finding 26 plastic particles in kidney and urine samples using advanced spectroscopy. The most common plastics found were polyethylene and polystyrene, with particles ranging from 1 to 29 micrometers in kidneys, providing the first direct evidence that microplastics can deposit in human kidneys.

2024 Environment International 172 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 EBioMedicine 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification and analysis of microplastics in human penile cancer tissues

Researchers found microplastics in tissue samples from patients with penile cancer, with the most common types being polyethylene, polypropylene, and PVC. Cancerous tissue contained significantly more microplastics and a greater variety of plastic types than nearby healthy tissue, suggesting a possible link between microplastic accumulation and cancer development that needs further investigation.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection and quantification of microplastics in various types of human tumor tissues

Researchers detected microplastics in 43% of tumor samples across lung, gastric, colorectal, cervical, and pancreatic cancers, with polystyrene, PVC, and polyethylene being the types found. In pancreatic tumors, microplastic presence was associated with fewer immune cells that fight cancer and more immune cells linked to tumor progression, suggesting microplastics may create conditions that help tumors evade the immune system.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 62 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic accumulation in endometrial cancer tissues and its metabolic impact

Researchers examined microplastic levels in endometrial cancer tissues compared to normal tissue and found that cancer tissues contained significantly higher concentrations of plastic particles. The most common plastics detected were polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. Metabolic analysis revealed that microplastic presence was associated with changes in cancer-related metabolic pathways, suggesting that microplastics may play a role in promoting tumor development through metabolic reprogramming.

2025 Environmental Pollution 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of Microplastics in Human Gastric Cancer and Control Tissues and Analysis of Associated Genetic Features

Researchers detected and characterized microplastics in human gastric cancer tissue and adjacent healthy tissue, finding significantly higher microplastic concentrations in cancer tissue, and used transcriptome sequencing to explore potential molecular mechanisms linking microplastic exposure to gastric cancer development.

2025 Advanced Healthcare Materials
Article Tier 2

Identification and analysis of microplastics in peritumoral and tumor tissues of colorectal cancer

Researchers examined tumor and surrounding tissue from colorectal cancer patients and found a diverse range of microplastics, including PVC and polyethylene, with tumor tissues containing a greater variety and higher distribution of microplastics than adjacent healthy tissue. A protein called clathrin that helps cells absorb materials was highly active in the cancer tissue, suggesting it may facilitate microplastic uptake and pointing to a potential link between microplastic exposure and colorectal cancer development.

2025 Scientific Reports 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in kidney transplant donor tissues and its association with early post-transplant blood pressure changes in recipients: A multi-modal analytical study

Researchers analyzed kidney transplant donor tissues using multiple detection methods and found microplastic contamination across all tissue types examined, including kidney, adrenal gland, and blood vessels. They also observed an association between microplastic presence in donor tissues and early blood pressure changes in transplant recipients. The study raises important questions about whether microplastics in transplanted organs could affect recipient health outcomes.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection and analysis of microplastics in tissues and blood of human cervical cancer patients

In the first study of its kind, researchers detected 13 types of microplastics in the blood, tumor tissue, and surrounding tissue of cervical cancer patients using Raman spectroscopy. Microplastic levels were higher in cancerous tissue than in nearby healthy tissue, and factors like age, BMI, and bottled water consumption correlated with greater microplastic abundance, suggesting a possible link between plastic exposure and reproductive health.

2024 Environmental Research 60 citations
Article Tier 2

Additional file 1 of Single-cell RNA-seq analysis decodes the kidney microenvironment induced by polystyrene microplastics in mice receiving a high-fat diet

Researchers used single-cell RNA sequencing to decode kidney microenvironmental changes induced by polystyrene microplastics in mice fed a high-fat diet, characterizing mural cell and mesangial cell heterogeneity, DEG profiles, and pathway enrichment in affected renal tissue.

2024 Figshare
Article Tier 2

#6225 Microplastics: First Extended Proteomic Analysis on Kidney Tubular Cells

In a preliminary proteomic study, researchers analyzed protein expression changes in kidney tubular cells exposed to microplastics and nanoplastics, identifying disrupted pathways that shed light on the cellular mechanisms by which plastic particles may cause kidney damage.

2023 Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 3 citations
Article Tier 2

From exposure to oncogenesis: a review on the multifaceted roles of microplastics in tumor initiation and progression

This review examined the evidence linking microplastic exposure to tumor initiation and progression, covering physical, chemical, and inflammatory mechanisms by which MPs may promote oncogenesis. The authors conclude that while current evidence is largely preclinical, accumulating data warrant serious concern about microplastics as environmental carcinogens.

2025 Journal of Translational Medicine
Article Tier 2

Association of faecal and urinary micro- and nanoplastics with markers of gut integrity and renal function

Researchers measured micro- and nanoplastics in stool and urine samples from 50 healthy adults in Barcelona and examined associations with markers of gut integrity and kidney function. Six polymer types were detected in roughly half of all samples, with polyamide being the most common. The study found that the presence of plastics in urine was associated with elevated albumin-creatinine ratios, a marker of kidney function, suggesting potential links between plastic exposure and renal health.

2026 Environmental Research
Article Tier 2

#6111 First Identification and Characterization of Microplastics in Human Kidney and Urine

Researchers report the first identification of microplastics in human kidney tissue and urine samples. Using microscopy and spectroscopy, they detected plastic particles in all kidney and urine samples examined, with polyethylene and polypropylene among the most common types found. The study adds kidneys and urine to the growing list of human organs and body fluids where microplastics have been documented, raising questions about potential effects on kidney function.

2023 Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic changes during the development of cervical cancer and its effects on the metabolomic profiles of cancer tissues

Researchers found microplastics in cervical cancer tissue, with polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common types, and levels increased as the cancer progressed to more advanced stages. The microplastics appeared to alter the chemical environment within the cancer tissue, suggesting they may play a role in how cervical cancer develops, though more research is needed to confirm a causal link.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 20 citations
Article Tier 2

#5502 Pro-inflammatory Effects of Bisphenol a and Polyethylene Microplastics on Human Renal Tubular Cells

Laboratory experiments showed that both bisphenol A (BPA) and polyethylene microplastics activate inflammatory pathways in human kidney tubular cells, and their combination amplifies this effect through the so-called "Trojan Horse" mechanism. Exposure triggered the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines linked to kidney fibrosis. These findings suggest that combined exposure to microplastics and chemical additives may contribute to the rising global burden of chronic kidney disease.

2023 Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastiques : une menace silencieuse pour vos reins ?

Researchers reviewed evidence on microplastic contamination and its potential effects on kidney health, noting that microplastics have been detected in kidneys and urine in humans. In vitro and animal studies suggest potential nephrotoxicity from microplastic exposure, and patients with kidney diseases may face increased risk due to higher exposure through medical procedures and reduced urinary elimination. The study calls for further research to clarify the relationship between microplastic exposure and kidney damage.

2026 Revue Médicale Suisse
Article Tier 2

The detrimental effects of microplastic exposure on kidney function

This review explores the two-way relationship between kidney function and microplastic exposure, asking whether MPs can be cleared renally and whether kidney disease impairs their clearance. Evidence suggests MPs accumulate in kidney tissue and may contribute to disease progression, though clinical data remain limited.

2025 Frontiers in Medicine
Article Tier 2

Detection of Microplastics in Patients with Colorectal Adenocarcinoma using Various Techniques

Researchers detected microplastics in tumoral and non-tumoral colon tissues of colorectal adenocarcinoma patients and healthy controls using ATR-FTIR and Raman spectroscopies, finding that tumoral tissues contained significantly higher microplastic counts than non-tumoral or healthy tissues. The identified polymers included polyethylene, poly(methyl methacrylate), and nylon, suggesting a potential link between microplastic exposure and colorectal cancer.

2022 Research Square (Research Square) 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of cancer-related signaling pathways in responses to polystyrene nanoplastics via a kidney-testis microfluidic platform (KTP)

Researchers developed a kidney-testis microfluidic platform to assess cancer-related signaling pathway responses to polystyrene nanoplastics. The study found that nanoplastic exposure activated cancer-associated signaling pathways in both kidney and testis tissue models, providing new insights into the potential molecular mechanisms through which nanoplastics may affect organ health.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 58 citations
Article Tier 2

Network toxicology and bioinformatics analysis reveal the molecular mechanisms of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics in exacerbating diabetic nephropathy

This computational study used bioinformatics to explore how polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics might worsen diabetic kidney disease. The analysis identified key genes and inflammatory pathways that are affected by both PET microplastics and kidney damage in diabetes. The findings suggest that microplastic exposure could accelerate kidney problems in people who already have diabetes, though lab and clinical studies are needed to confirm this.

2025 Scientific Reports 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of reliable reference genes for gene expression studies in mouse models under microplastics stress

Researchers sought to identify reliable reference genes for gene expression studies in mouse models exposed to polypropylene microplastics. The study found that while kidney tissues showed no obvious histological damage from microplastic exposure, careful selection and validation of reference genes is essential for accurate RT-qPCR analysis of gene expression changes under microplastic stress conditions.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on the kidney and cardiovascular system

This review summarizes evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics found in human hearts, kidneys, blood, and urine can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, cell death, and metabolic disruption. Kidney dialysis patients may face especially high exposure, and clinical evidence suggests particulate plastic exposure is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

2025 Nature Reviews Nephrology 24 citations