Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Insights into the toxic effects of micro-nano-plastics on the human brain and their relationship with the onset of neurological diseases: A narrative review.

This review examined toxic effects of micro and nano-plastics (MNPs) on the human brain, linking MNP exposure to neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, disruption of the blood-brain barrier, and progression toward neurodegenerative diseases. The authors synthesized evidence from cell studies, animal models, and emerging human data.

2025 Ageing research reviews
Article Tier 2

Assessing the Impact of Microplastics on Brain Chemistry: The Need for a Comprehensive Policy Framework to Mitigate Toxicity

This review examines the growing evidence that microplastics can cross biological barriers, accumulate in brain tissue, and affect neurological function. Researchers found that microplastic exposure has been linked to neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the brain, with potential implications for neurotransmitter systems and cognitive function. The study calls for comprehensive regulatory measures to limit microplastic pollution and further research into the long-term neurological health effects.

2024 International Journal of Science and Healthcare Research 2 citations
Article Tier 2

The impact of microplastics on neurodegenerative diseases and underlying molecular mechanisms: A narrative review

This review explores how microplastics that accumulate in the environment can reach the brain through inhalation or by crossing the blood-brain barrier. Researchers examined evidence suggesting that microplastics may contribute to the onset or acceleration of neurodegenerative conditions by triggering harmful responses in brain cells. The study calls for stronger environmental policies, better detection methods, and further research into potential therapeutic interventions.

2024 Environmental Disease 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Deciphering the Neurotoxic Burden of Micro- and Nanoplastics: From Multi-model Experimental Evidence to Therapeutic Innovation

This review summarizes research on how micro- and nanoplastics damage the brain and nervous system, covering evidence from cell studies, animal experiments, and clinical observations. Plastic particles can cross the blood-brain barrier, disrupt the gut-brain connection, cause oxidative stress, and trigger inflammation that leads to memory problems and cognitive decline. The review also discusses potential treatment strategies, making it a useful resource for understanding the brain health risks of plastic exposure.

2025 Molecular Neurobiology 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Elucidating the Neurotoxicopathological Impact of Micro and Nanoplastics: Mechanistic Insights Into Oxidative Stress-mediated Neurodegeneration and Implications for Public Health in a Plastic Pervasive Era

Researchers reviewed the growing evidence linking micro- and nanoplastic exposure to neurodegenerative diseases, identifying oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, DNA damage, and protein misfolding as key mechanisms of harm to the brain. The review highlights critical knowledge gaps — especially around chronic low-dose exposure — and calls for better detection tools and public health policies to address the emerging neurological threat from plastic pollution.

2025 Indian Journal of Health Care Medical & Pharmacy Practice
Article Tier 2

Microplastics/nanoplastics and neurological health: An overview of neurological defects and mechanisms

This review summarizes evidence that micro and nanoplastics can harm the nervous system, causing developmental abnormalities, brain cell death, neurological inflammation, and potentially contributing to neurodegenerative diseases. Animal studies show that these tiny plastics can cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in brain tissue, where they trigger oxidative stress and disrupt normal brain function. While direct evidence in humans is still limited, the findings suggest that chronic microplastic exposure could be a risk factor for neurological health problems.

2024 Toxicology 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Brain under siege: the role of micro and nanoplastics in neuroinflammation and oxidative stress

This review examines emerging evidence that micro- and nanoplastics can cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in nervous tissue, potentially triggering neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Researchers summarized findings showing these particles may act as neurotoxicants that contribute to synaptic dysfunction and pathological changes in brain cells. The study highlights the need for further research into how chronic plastic particle exposure may affect central nervous system health over time.

2026 3 Biotech
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

Polystyrene Nanoplastics Induce DNA Damage and Excitotoxicity in Whole-Brain Organoids: The Role of the TLR9/MyD88 Pathway

Researchers exposed whole-brain organoids—lab-grown 3D brain tissue models—to polystyrene nanoplastics and investigated neurotoxic mechanisms. The nanoplastics caused DNA damage and excitotoxicity through activation of the TLR9/MyD88 immune signaling pathway, identifying inflammatory receptor activation as a key mechanism by which nanoplastics trigger developmental neurotoxicity.

2025 Toxics
Article Tier 2

From environment to brain: the role of microplastics in neurobehavioral disorders

This review examines how microplastics enter the human body and cross the blood-brain barrier, linking their presence in neural tissue to neurobehavioral disorders through mechanisms including neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of neurotransmitter systems.

2025 Frontiers in Neuroscience
Article Tier 2

Neurotoxicities induced by micro/nanoplastics: A review focusing on the risks of neurological diseases

This review summarizes evidence that micro- and nanoplastics can reach the brain through the bloodstream and nerve pathways, where they trigger oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell damage that may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases. The particles are found in air, water, soil, and food, meaning humans are constantly exposed through breathing, eating, and skin contact, making brain effects a serious long-term concern.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 99 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

The neurotoxic threat of micro- and nanoplastics: evidence from In Vitro and In Vivo models

This systematic review examined 26 studies showing that micro- and nanoplastics can cross into the brain, damage neurons, and trigger inflammation in lab and animal models. These findings raise concerns that long-term plastic exposure could contribute to neurological problems in humans, though more research is needed.

2025 Archives of Toxicology 23 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

A systematic review of the potential neurotoxicity of micro-and nanoplastics: the known and unknown

This critical review of 234 studies found that micro- and nanoplastics can reach the brain via olfactory translocation or by crossing the blood-brain barrier, where they may cause neuroinflammation, oxidative damage, and behavioral changes in animal models. The evidence raises significant concerns about potential neurotoxic effects of chronic microplastic exposure in humans, though major knowledge gaps remain.

2025 Particle and Fibre Toxicology 6 citations
Article Tier 2

The plastic brain part II: new insights into micro- and nanoplastics neurotoxicity

This systematic review evaluated neurotoxicity evidence from studies on micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) exposure, covering a rapidly growing body of literature. The authors found consistent evidence of neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and behavioral disruption across multiple model systems, though dose-response relationships and human relevance remain areas of uncertainty.

2025 Microplastics and Nanoplastics
Article Tier 2

Effects of Microplastic Accumulation on Neuronal Death After Global Cerebral Ischemia

Researchers found that microplastics worsened brain damage after a stroke-like event in mice, increasing inflammation, damaging the protective coating around nerve fibers, and causing more brain cell death. The microplastics also triggered the release of abnormal tau proteins, similar to what happens in Alzheimer's disease, suggesting that microplastic exposure could make the brain more vulnerable to injury and neurodegenerative conditions.

2025 Cells 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro-nanoplastics in the central nervous system: Evidence, mechanisms and perspectives

This review examines evidence that micro- and nanoplastics can cross the blood-brain barrier and cause neurotoxicity through oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and disruption of neurotransmitter signaling. While clinical studies have confirmed the presence of plastic particles in human brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid, the authors note that methodological limitations and inconsistent quality controls currently prevent establishing a definitive causal link to neurological conditions.

2026 Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Crossing barriers – tracking micro- and nanoplastic pathways into the human brain

Researchers tracked potential pathways by which micro- and nanoplastics may enter the human brain, examining both in vitro cell models and post-mortem brain tissue. They found that human monocytes rapidly internalized polystyrene particles into endocytic vesicles and mitochondria, and detected plastic particles in brain tissue samples, providing evidence that nanoplastics may be capable of crossing brain barriers.

2026
Article Tier 2

Revealing the underlying mechanisms of nanoplastics induces neuroinflammation: From transcriptomic analysis to in vivo and in vitro validation

This study investigated how nanoplastics cause brain inflammation in mice. Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics accumulated in the brain, triggered anxiety-like behavior and cognitive problems, and activated inflammatory pathways involving NF-kappaB signaling. The evidence indicates that nanoplastics can cross into the brain and activate immune cells there, pointing to specific molecular mechanisms that may underlie the neurological effects of plastic particle exposure.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 4 citations
Article Tier 2

The plastic brain: neurotoxicity of micro- and nanoplastics

This review examines the emerging evidence that micro- and nanoplastics can reach the brain in both aquatic animals and mammals, potentially causing neurotoxic effects. Researchers found that exposure to these particles induces oxidative stress, inhibits key enzymes involved in nerve signaling, and alters neurotransmitter levels, which may contribute to behavioral changes. The study highlights that systematic research comparing different particle types, sizes, and exposure conditions is urgently needed to understand the neurological risks.

2020 Particle and Fibre Toxicology 691 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring toxicological pathways of microplastics and nanoplastics: Insights from animal and cellular models

This review examines what animal and cell studies have revealed about how microplastics and nanoplastics cause harm at the molecular level, including promoting inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death. Most research has focused on reproductive toxicity and polystyrene particles, while effects on the gut, brain, and heart remain understudied. The authors note that many experiments use unrealistic concentrations and synthetic particles, making it difficult to apply the results to real-world human exposure.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 31 citations
Article Tier 2

From exposure to neurotoxicity induced by micro-nanoplastics with brain accumulation and cognitive decline

This review synthesizes evidence that micro- and nanoplastics can reach the brain by crossing the blood-brain barrier or traveling along nerve pathways, accumulating in regions critical for memory and thinking. Animal studies show that chronic exposure leads to cognitive problems, behavioral changes, and brain changes resembling neurodegenerative diseases, driven by oxidative stress, inflammation, and disruption of the gut-brain connection. The findings raise concern that long-term human exposure to nanoplastics through food and air could contribute to cognitive decline and neurological disease.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of micro- and nanoplastics in cerebrospinal fluid and blood: Implications for brain diseases

Researchers measured micro- and nanoplastic concentrations in paired cerebrospinal fluid and blood samples from patients with neurological conditions. They detected five types of plastic polymers in both fluids, with blood containing significantly higher concentrations than cerebrospinal fluid, and found correlations between plastic levels in the two fluids among patients with neuroimmune and neuroinfectious conditions. The study also identified disrupted metabolic pathways associated with higher plastic concentrations, suggesting a potential link between plastic particle exposure and changes in brain chemistry that warrants further investigation.

2026 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicological Research on Nano and Microplastics in Environmental Pollution: Current Advances and Future Directions

This review summarizes existing research on how nano- and microplastics from our massive global plastic production enter aquatic environments, absorb harmful chemicals, and move through food chains into living organisms. Studies show these particles can cause brain damage, disrupt metabolism, trigger inflammation, and produce harmful oxidative stress in aquatic species, with microplastics even detected in commercial fish that people eat.

2024 Aquatic Toxicology 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of micro- and nanoplastics exposure on human health: focus on neurological effects from ingestion

This review compiles emerging evidence on how ingested microplastics and nanoplastics may affect the brain and nervous system. Researchers found that these particles can disrupt gut bacteria, cross the blood-brain barrier, and accumulate in neural tissue, potentially triggering inflammation, oxidative stress, and protein changes linked to cognitive problems. The study highlights an urgent need for more human research, as initial findings have associated elevated plastic particle levels in brain tissue with neurological concerns.

2025 Frontiers in Public Health 4 citations