Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Nano and microplastics: unveiling their profound impact on endocrine health

This review summarizes existing research showing that micro- and nanoplastics can disrupt the endocrine (hormone) system, altering reproductive hormones, thyroid function, and gene expression in lab and animal studies. Exposure to these particles triggered inflammation markers and oxidative stress in hormone-producing organs, suggesting that widespread plastic pollution may be contributing to rising rates of hormonal and reproductive health problems.

2025 Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods 18 citations
Article Tier 2

A review of the endocrine disrupting effects of micro and nano plastic and their associated chemicals in mammals

This review summarizes how micro- and nanoplastics carry hormone-disrupting chemicals that can interfere with the thyroid, reproductive organs, and other parts of the endocrine system in mammals. Because these chemicals are not tightly bound to the plastic, they can leach into milk, water, and food, potentially disrupting hormone function in humans who consume them.

2023 Frontiers in Endocrinology 289 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

The endocrine disrupting effects of nanoplastic exposure: A systematic review

This systematic review summarizes research on how nanoplastics, the smallest plastic particles, can disrupt the hormonal system. The evidence from lab studies suggests nanoplastics may interfere with thyroid function, reproductive hormones, and stress responses. These findings raise concerns because endocrine disruption can lead to fertility problems, metabolic issues, and developmental effects in humans.

2023 Toxicology and Industrial Health 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics: a mechanistic perspective of health risks associated with metabolic and reproductive functions

This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics enter the human body through food, air, and skin contact, and the mechanisms by which they may disrupt metabolic and reproductive health. Researchers describe how these particles are absorbed through the gut, enter the bloodstream, and accumulate in organs where they can trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and hormonal disruption. The evidence indicates that micro- and nanoplastics, particularly those carrying endocrine-disrupting chemicals, may pose significant risks to fertility and metabolic function.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Implications of plastic-derived endocrine disruptors on human health

This review summarizes how chemicals released from plastics, known as endocrine disruptors, can interfere with the body's hormone systems. Common substances like BPA and phthalates mimic or block hormones, contributing to obesity, diabetes, reproductive problems, and developmental issues in children. Micro- and nanoplastics make the problem worse because they can release these hormone-disrupting chemicals inside the body after being ingested or inhaled.

2025 Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics, Endocrine Disruptors, and Oxidative Stress: Mechanisms and Health Implications

This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics trigger oxidative stress as a central mechanism of toxicity across multiple organ systems, including reproductive, cardiovascular, hepatic, and neurological tissues. The study highlights that these particles often carry endocrine-disrupting chemicals like bisphenol A and phthalates, which together generate reactive oxygen species, impair mitochondrial function, and compromise antioxidant defenses.

2025 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 1 citations
Review Tier 2

"Unseen Dangers: The Effects of Micro- and Nanoplastics on Human Reproductive Health - A Narrative Review"

This review examines the effects of micro- and nanoplastics on human reproductive health, covering evidence from in vitro, animal, and epidemiological studies showing that plastic particles can disrupt hormone signaling, sperm function, ovarian development, and placental integrity.

2025 Recent Advances in Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery
Article Tier 2

Reproductive toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics

This review summarizes existing research on how micro- and nanoplastics harm reproduction across many species, from marine invertebrates to mammals. The particles can cause oxidative stress and hormone disruption, leading to reduced fertility, abnormal embryo development, and toxic effects that pass to offspring. The findings raise concerns that human reproductive health could be similarly affected given our increasing exposure to these particles.

2023 Environment International 101 citations
Article Tier 2

Threats of nano/microplastics to reproduction and offspring: Potential mechanisms and perspectives

This review summarized the evidence on how nano- and microplastics threaten reproduction and offspring health across multiple species, including fish, invertebrates, and mammals. The authors outlined potential mechanisms by which these plastic particles disrupt endocrine function, gonadal development, and embryonic development.

2024 Journal of Toxicological Studies 1 citations
Review Tier 2

Effects of micro(nano)plastics on the reproductive system: A review

This review summarizes research on how micro and nanoplastics affect the reproductive system in both animal studies and cell experiments. Evidence indicates these particles can cross biological barriers, accumulate in reproductive organs, and disrupt hormones, egg development, and sperm quality. While human studies are still limited, the animal data suggests microplastic exposure may be a meaningful concern for reproductive health.

2023 Chemosphere 42 citations
Review Tier 2

Endocrine Toxicity of Micro- and Nanoplastics, and Advances in Detection Techniques for Human Tissues: A Comprehensive Review

This review summarizes growing evidence that micro- and nanoplastics contain or carry endocrine-disrupting chemicals that interfere with hormones throughout the body, triggering oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death in hormone-producing tissues. The paper also reviews new detection methods that can identify and measure these tiny plastic particles in human blood, tissue, and other biological samples, which is essential for understanding real-world health impacts.

2025 Endocrines 10 citations
Article Tier 2

PLASTAMINATION: Outcomes on the Central Nervous System and Reproduction.

This review assessed evidence for neurotoxic and reproductive effects of both biodegradable and conventional micro- and nanoplastics, finding that plastic particles and their chemical additives can cross the blood-brain barrier and disrupt hormone systems, with concerning implications for nervous system and reproductive health.

2024 Current neuropharmacology
Article Tier 2

Concerning influences of micro/nano plastics on female reproductive health: focusing on cellular and molecular pathways from animal models to human studies

This review summarizes research showing that micro- and nanoplastics can harm the female reproductive system in multiple ways, from reducing ovarian reserves and disrupting hormone balance to accumulating in the placenta and breast milk. Animal studies show these particles trigger oxidative stress and inflammation in reproductive tissues, and human studies have confirmed their presence in placental tissue and infant feces, raising concerns about effects on fertility and fetal development.

2024 Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Adverse effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on the reproductive system: A comprehensive review of fertility and potential harmful interactions

This review summarizes how microplastics and nanoplastics can harm both male and female reproductive systems by disrupting hormone signaling, damaging sperm and egg cells, and causing inflammation in reproductive tissues. Smaller nanoplastics are especially concerning because they can cross biological barriers more easily and reach the testes and ovaries. With global infertility rates rising, the authors highlight environmental plastic exposure as a factor that deserves more research attention.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 99 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as Emerging Contaminants: Investigating their Potential to Alter Human Metabolic and Endocrine Systems

This review investigated the potential of microplastics to alter human hormone signaling, synthesizing evidence that plastic particles and their chemical additives can act as endocrine disruptors at environmentally relevant concentrations. The paper highlighted reproductive and metabolic pathways as areas of particular concern.

2024
Article Tier 2

The Pressing Issue of Micro- and Nanoplastic Contamination: Profiling the Reproductive Alterations Mediated by Oxidative Stress

This review examined how micro- and nanoplastics affect reproductive health across aquatic and land-based organisms, focusing on oxidative stress as the primary damage mechanism. Researchers found that these plastic particles can reach the gonads through the bloodstream and even accumulate in human and mouse placenta, with harmful effects on sperm and egg development, embryo growth, and offspring survival. The severity of reproductive harm appears to increase with smaller particle sizes and longer exposure times.

2022 Antioxidants 82 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics as Gene and Epigenetic Modulators of Endocrine Functions: A Perspective

This review summarizes how nanoplastics act as endocrine disruptors, interfering with thyroid and sex hormones in animal studies and causing DNA and epigenetic changes that could be passed to future generations. With nanoplastics already detected in human breast milk and placenta, the research underscores the need for more studies on how chronic exposure may affect human hormone function and reproductive health.

2025 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 12 citations
Article Tier 2

The potential impacts of micro-and-nano plastics on various organ systems in humans

This review summarizes research on how micro- and nanoplastics can affect virtually every organ system in the human body, including the digestive, respiratory, immune, and reproductive systems. The evidence from animal and cell studies shows these particles cause harm through oxidative stress, inflammation, immune dysfunction, and disrupted metabolism, though more research using realistic exposure levels in humans is needed.

2023 EBioMedicine 297 citations
Article Tier 2

Understanding the impact of nanoplastics on reproductive health: Exposure pathways, mechanisms, and implications

This review summarizes existing research on how nanoplastics (tiny plastic particles smaller than one micrometer) affect reproductive health in animals and potentially humans. Studies show that nanoplastics can accumulate in reproductive organs including the placenta, and evidence from animal studies links exposure to hormone disruption, reduced fertility, and developmental problems. The authors highlight a significant knowledge gap about nanoplastic effects on human reproduction, despite growing evidence that these particles reach our reproductive systems.

2024 Toxicology 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicological effects of micro/nano-plastics on human reproductive health: A review

This review summarizes research on how micro- and nanoplastics affect human reproductive health in both men and women. Evidence from animal and lab studies shows that these particles can accumulate in reproductive organs, disrupt hormones, damage eggs and sperm, and cause inflammation and oxidative stress. While human studies are still limited, the growing body of evidence suggests that microplastic exposure is a potential threat to fertility that warrants further investigation.

2025 Toxicology Letters 7 citations