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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Toxicity of long term exposure to low dose polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes
ClearLow-dose of polystyrene microplastics induce cardiotoxicity in mice and human-originated cardiac organoids
Researchers found that even low doses of polystyrene microplastics can damage heart tissue in both mice and lab-grown human heart organoids. The microplastics triggered oxidative stress and disrupted energy production in heart cells, leading to inflammation and cell death. This is one of the first studies to show heart-specific toxicity from microplastics at doses meant to reflect realistic human exposure levels.
Dissection of the potential mechanism of polystyrene microplastic exposure on cardiomyocytes
Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics affect human heart muscle cells at concentrations reflecting estimated daily human intake levels. They found that the microplastics caused oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disrupted calcium signaling in the cells. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may contribute to cardiovascular risks by directly damaging heart cell function at the cellular level.
Polystyrene nanoplastics trigger mitochondrial and metabolic reprogramming in cardiomyocytes: Evidence from integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis
Scientists found that tiny plastic particles called nanoplastics can damage heart cells by disrupting their powerhouses (mitochondria) and reducing their ability to produce energy. When researchers exposed human heart cells and mice to these nanoplastics, they observed weakened heart function and signs of early heart damage. This research suggests that the growing amount of microscopic plastic pollution in our environment could pose previously unknown risks to heart health.
Embryonic exposure of polystyrene nanoplastics affects cardiac development
Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics disrupted the development of heart cells grown from human embryonic stem cells, producing smaller and weaker heart tissue in the lab. The nanoplastics caused oxidative stress in mitochondria and blocked important cellular cleanup processes, reducing the stem cells' ability to properly form heart cells. In zebrafish embryos, nanoplastic exposure also reduced heart contractions and blood flow, suggesting that nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy could pose risks to fetal heart development.
Unveiling the Heart’s Hidden Enemy: Dynamic Insights into Polystyrene Nanoplastic-Induced Cardiotoxicity Based on Cardiac Organoid-on-a-Chip
Using a human heart organoid-on-a-chip (a miniature lab-grown heart model), researchers tracked how polystyrene nanoplastics damage the heart over time. Short-term exposure caused oxidative stress, inflammation, and disrupted calcium signaling, while long-term exposure led to heart scarring (fibrosis). Notably, even low doses that seemed harmless in healthy tissue worsened damage in heart tissue already affected by a simulated heart attack.
Multi-dimensional evaluation of cardiotoxicity in mice following respiratory exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics
Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene nanoplastics through inhalation and found that even short-term breathing exposure caused heart damage, including inflammation and weakened heart function. The damage got worse with higher doses and longer exposure times, with energy production in heart cells being disrupted through mitochondrial damage. This is one of the first studies to show that breathing in nanoplastics can directly harm the heart, raising concerns about airborne plastic particle exposure in humans.
Nanoplastics induces Arrhythmia in Human Stem-cells derived Cardiomyocytes
Exposing human embryonic stem cell-derived heart muscle cells to nanoplastics for up to seven days caused dose-dependent oxidative stress, increased cell death, and — by day seven — abnormal electrical activity consistent with cardiac arrhythmia. These findings provide the first direct evidence using human heart cells that nanoplastic accumulation can disrupt cardiac function, raising important questions about long-term cardiovascular risks from plastic particle exposure in people.
Cardiotoxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and associated mechanism of myocardial cell injury in mice
Mice exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics for 42 days developed enlarged hearts, thinner heart walls, and weaker heart contractions in a dose-dependent manner. The nanoplastics triggered inflammation and oxidative stress in heart muscle cells through specific signaling pathways. These findings suggest that nanoplastic exposure could contribute to heart disease, including a condition called dilated cardiomyopathy.
PVC nanoplastics impair cardiac function via lysosomal and mitochondrial dysfunction
Researchers found that PVC nanoplastics damaged heart cells by disrupting two critical cellular structures: lysosomes (the cell's recycling system) and mitochondria (the cell's energy producers). The nanoplastics caused lysosomes to become leaky and mitochondria to malfunction, leading to heart cell injury and impaired cardiac function. This study is concerning because PVC is one of the most common plastics, and the findings suggest that nanoplastic exposure could contribute to heart disease.
Emerging cardiovascular risks of micro- and nanoplastics: toxic effects and mechanistic pathways
Tiny plastic particles called micro- and nanoplastics are getting into our bodies through food, air, and skin contact, and researchers have found them building up in people's hearts and blood vessels. This review of existing studies shows these plastic bits may contribute to heart disease by causing inflammation and damaging cells in the cardiovascular system. While more research is needed, this suggests that plastic pollution isn't just an environmental problem—it could be directly harming our heart health.
Nanoplastics induces arrhythmia in human stem-cells derived cardiomyocytes
Researchers exposed human cardiomyocytes derived from stem cells to nanoplastic particles and observed dose-dependent uptake, oxidative stress, and arrhythmias developing by day seven. Complementary experiments in mice revealed that nanoplastics disrupted RNA processing and protein folding in heart tissue, leading to cellular stress and impaired electrical signaling. The study provides evidence that nanoplastic exposure may pose direct risks to heart rhythm and function.
Progress in Research on Microplastics and Nano-plastics Cardiac Toxicity
This review covers experimental and clinical evidence on the cardiovascular toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics, documenting effects on heart function, vascular integrity, and inflammation pathways. It calls for more human clinical data to clarify the dose-response relationship and the relevance of laboratory findings to real-world cardiac risk.
Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics on Human Kidney and Liver Cell Morphology, Cellular Proliferation, and Metabolism
Researchers exposed human kidney and liver cells to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and concentrations to assess their effects on cell health. They found that microplastics altered cell shape, reduced proliferation, and disrupted cellular metabolism, with smaller particles generally causing more damage. The findings suggest that microplastics reaching internal organs could have measurable effects at the cellular level.
Exposure of microplastic at levels relevant for human health : cytotoxicity and cellular localization of polystyrene microparticles in four human cell lines
Researchers tested the cytotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics on four human cell lines at concentrations relevant to real-world human exposure from food, water, and packaging. At environmentally realistic doses, microplastics were taken up by cells but did not cause significant toxicity, though higher concentrations did produce cell damage, suggesting that current exposure levels may be near a threshold of concern.
Tiny trouble: microplastics, nanoplastics, and their heartfelt impact on cardiovascular health
This review summarizes growing evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics have been found in human heart tissue, arterial plaques, and blood, and may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Lab studies show these particles can damage blood vessel walls, disrupt cholesterol processing, trigger inflammation, and promote blood clot formation, raising serious concerns about heart health.
Micro- and nanoplastics in the cardiovascular system: current evidence, research gaps: a systematic review
This systematic review examined how microplastics and nanoplastics affect the heart and blood vessels. Studies in both animals and human tissue found that these particles can cause blood vessel inflammation, disrupt heart function, and were even linked to higher rates of heart attack and stroke in people with plastic particles in their arteries.
From pollution to palpitations: the heart’s silent battle with microplastics
This systematic review examined 72 studies on how microplastics and nanoplastics affect the heart and blood vessels. The research found that these particles can impair heart function, cause tissue scarring, and trigger inflammation through oxidative stress. Smaller particles under 100 nanometers are especially concerning because they can penetrate deeper into the body, raising questions about the cardiovascular risks of long-term plastic particle exposure.
Exposure to nanoplastics impairs collective contractility of neonatal cardiomyocytes under electrical synchronization
Researchers studied how nanoplastics affect the contraction of neonatal rat heart cells in the lab. They found that positively charged nanoplastics accumulated on cell membranes and entered cells, leading to reduced calcium levels, disrupted electrical activity, mitochondrial damage, and increased reactive oxygen species, ultimately impairing the heart cells' ability to contract.
Polystyrene nanoparticles induce DNA damage and apoptosis in HeLa cells
Researchers exposed human HeLa cells to polystyrene nanoplastics — particles smaller than 100 nm — and found that even short exposures at low concentrations caused DNA damage, abnormal cell division, and signs of cell death including apoptosis and necrosis. The results suggest nanoplastics can directly damage human cell DNA, raising concerns about the health implications of everyday nanoplastic exposure.
Micro/nano-plastics impacts in cardiovascular systems across species
This review summarizes research across multiple species showing that microplastics and nanoplastics can damage the cardiovascular system, causing blood clots, blood vessel injury, and heart problems in lab animals. Since these tiny particles have been found in human blood and can travel throughout the body, the findings raise serious concerns about the long-term heart health effects of microplastic exposure in people.
Micro- and nanoplastics: A new cardiovascular risk factor?
This review examines the growing evidence that micro- and nanoplastics may pose risks to the heart and blood vessels. Studies in animals and cell cultures show that these tiny plastic particles can enter the bloodstream, trigger inflammation, promote blood clotting, and damage blood vessel walls. While human data is still limited, the review suggests that micro- and nanoplastic exposure should be considered a potential new risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Impacts of micro- and nanoplastic exposure on the cardiovascular system: a systematic review focused on in vivo studies
This systematic review summarizes 38 animal studies on how micro- and nanoplastics affect the heart and blood vessels. The research found that these tiny plastic particles can deposit in cardiovascular tissue, trigger inflammation and oxidative stress, and cause structural damage, raising concerns about potential heart health risks from ongoing plastic exposure.
Adverse effects polystyrene microplastics exert on zebrafish heart – Molecular to individual level
Researchers fed zebrafish microplastic-enriched food for 21 days and found significant damage to heart function, including reduced contraction strength and frequency, along with decreased swimming ability. At the cellular level, the fish showed increased oxidative stress, DNA damage, and disrupted energy metabolism in heart tissue. The study provides evidence that microplastic exposure can affect cardiovascular health in fish from the molecular level up to whole-organism fitness.
Micro and Nano-plastic particles: What are they and do they effect cardiovascular health?
This review examines the cardiovascular health effects of micro- and nanoplastics, summarizing evidence that these particles have been detected in human tissues including arterial plaques and may promote endothelial dysfunction and inflammation. The authors call for further clinical and epidemiological research into cardiac risk.