Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Effect of Microplastic Inhalation on Allergic and Nonallergic Rhinitis

Researchers analyzed nasal lavage samples from rhinitis patients and healthy controls, finding significantly higher microplastic concentrations in both allergic and nonallergic rhinitis groups compared to controls. Younger participants and those with more severe symptoms tended to have higher microplastic levels in their nasal passages. The study suggests that inhaled microplastics may play a role in nasal inflammation, though more research is needed to establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

2025 American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Preliminary Study of Microplastic in Allergic Rhinitis

Researchers compared microplastic concentrations in the nasal cavities of patients with allergic rhinitis versus healthy individuals. They found significantly higher levels of microplastics in the noses of people with the allergic condition. This preliminary finding suggests a potential connection between microplastic exposure in the nasal passages and allergic airway conditions, though more research is needed to understand the relationship.

2025 Ear Nose & Throat Journal 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of microplastics in patients with allergic rhinitis

In a study of 66 patients, researchers found significantly more microplastic particles in nasal wash samples from people with allergic rhinitis compared to healthy volunteers. The microplastics found were mostly fibers and fragments small enough to deposit in nasal passages during normal breathing. This is among the first studies to link airborne microplastic exposure in the nose to an allergic condition, suggesting inhaled microplastics may contribute to nasal inflammation.

2023 European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Role of Microplastics in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Without Nasal Polyps

This clinical study investigated the potential role of microplastics in chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps, examining whether microplastic exposure may contribute to persistent nasal inflammation.

2023 The Laryngoscope 24 citations
Article Tier 2

The Effects of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in the Nasal Airway and Upper Respiratory Tract

This review examines the effects of airborne microplastics on the upper respiratory tract and nasal region, an area largely overlooked despite being the initial point of contact with inhaled particles. The literature collectively indicates that microplastics may cause changes in cell morphology, cytotoxicity, and inflammatory effects in nasal tissues, with potential impacts on patient quality of life.

2025 Sinusitis 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Inflammatory Effects of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Nasal Airway Epithelial Cells

Researchers found that polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics cause inflammatory cytokine responses in nasal epithelial cells even over short exposure periods. The study also observed ciliary blunting and transcriptional evidence of significant inflammation and stress responses, suggesting that the nasal airway is vulnerable to plastic particle exposure.

2025 International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of microplastics in human nasal mucosa

Microplastic particles were detected for the first time in human nasal mucosa samples, with polymer types and concentrations quantified, providing direct evidence that the upper respiratory tract is a site of microplastic deposition from inhaled air.

2024 Laryngo-Rhino-Otologie
Article Tier 2

Identification and characterization of microplastics in human nasal samples

Researchers collected samples from human nasal cavities and confirmed the presence of microplastics, with polyethylene, polyester, acrylic, and polypropylene being the most common types. This finding adds the nose to the growing list of human body sites where microplastics have been detected, raising questions about potential health effects on the respiratory system.

2024 International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to microplastics in the upper respiratory tract of indoor and outdoor workers

Researchers measured microplastic presence in the upper respiratory tracts of indoor office workers and outdoor couriers using nasal lavage and sputum samples. The study found microplastics in both groups, with office workers showing significantly higher nasal contamination than couriers, and the dominant plastic types differing between indoor and outdoor workers.

2022 Chemosphere 71 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro‐ and Nanoplastic Toxicity in Upper Respiratory Tract: A Scoping Review

This scoping review found that both exposed and unexposed humans have microplastics and nanoplastics detectable in nasal tissue and fluids, with mask wearing and old nasal lavage devices contributing to deposition, and experimental studies suggesting inflammatory tissue changes from upper respiratory tract NMP accumulation.

2025 The Laryngoscope
Letter Tier 3

Correspondence Regarding “Inflammatory Effects of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Nasal Airway Epithelial Cells”

This correspondence comments on a study showing that microplastics and nanoplastics trigger inflammation in nasal airway cells, with effects varying by particle size and surface charge. The author highlights the study's value for understanding how inhaled plastic particles may harm the respiratory system.

2026 International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology
Article Tier 2

Microplastic exposure in the lungs of young children and its associations with allergic rhinitis: A cross-sectional study in China

Researchers measured microplastics in lung fluid collected from 207 children in China and found that higher concentrations of certain plastics, particularly polyamide 66, were associated with increased rates of allergic rhinitis. The association was strongest in children aged six and under. The study suggests that microplastic exposure in young lungs may be linked to a higher risk of allergic respiratory conditions in early childhood.

2025 Eco-Environment & Health 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Airborne microplastics: Consequences to human health?

Researchers reviewed existing evidence on airborne microplastics and their potential effects on human respiratory health. Studies of workers exposed to plastic fibers and particles have documented airway inflammation and breathing difficulties, suggesting that susceptible individuals may face health risks even from environmental concentrations. The paper calls for greater awareness and future research into the health consequences of inhaling microplastic particles.

2017 Environmental Pollution 1580 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Allergic Rhinitis: Multimechanistic Drivers of Barrier Disruption and Immune Dysregulation

This review examines the multimechanistic pathways by which microplastics drive barrier disruption and immune dysregulation in allergic rhinitis, considering how physical and chemical properties of microplastic particles interact with nasal epithelial and immune function. The paper synthesizes emerging evidence on microplastics as a novel contributor to upper airway allergic disease.

2025 Immunology
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in different nasal irrigation options

Researchers analyzed 150 samples of nasal irrigation products commonly used for sinusitis and rhinitis treatment to assess their microplastic content. They found an average of 6.49 microplastics per product, with nasal wash bottles containing the highest levels (up to 92 particles per product) while syringes had the lowest. The study highlights that nasal irrigation methods can be a direct route of microplastic exposure to the human respiratory tract.

2024 European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics exposed by respiratory tract and exacerbation of community-acquired pneumonia: The potential influences of respiratory microbiota and inflammatory factors

Researchers found that microplastics were present in the lungs of pneumonia patients, and that patients with severe pneumonia had higher levels of microplastics in their airways than those with milder cases. The microplastics appeared to worsen lung infections by disrupting the balance of airway bacteria and increasing inflammation. This study provides early evidence that inhaled microplastics may make respiratory infections more dangerous in humans.

2025 Environment International 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Nasal lavage technique reveals regular inhalation exposure of microplastics, not associated from face mask use

Researchers used nasal lavage, a technique that rinses the nasal cavity, to measure microplastics that people inhale during normal daily activities. They found an average of about 28 microplastic particles per sample across all participants, with eight different polymer types detected. Notably, the study found no significant difference in microplastic levels between different types of face masks, suggesting that everyday environmental exposure is the primary source of inhaled microplastics rather than mask materials.

2023 Environment International 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Microplastic Exposure on Airway Inflammation in an Acute Asthma Murine Model

Mouse experiments found that microplastic exposure worsened inflammatory responses in healthy lungs but did not further aggravate airway inflammation in mice with pre-existing asthma, suggesting the lung's response to microplastics depends on baseline immune state.

2025 Tuberculosis & respiratory diseases
Article Tier 2

The impaired response of nasal epithelial cells to microplastic stimulation in asthma and COPD

Researchers exposed nasal lining cells from healthy people, asthma patients, and COPD patients to polyamide microplastic fibers and found that diseased airways responded very differently than healthy ones. Asthma cells showed changes in cholesterol metabolism and stress responses, while COPD cells showed altered immune cell movement and signaling. This suggests that people with existing respiratory conditions are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of inhaled microplastic fibers.

2025 Scientific Reports 23 citations
Letter Tier 3

Reply to Correspondence Regarding “Inflammatory Effects of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Nasal Airway Epithelial Cells”

Researchers respond to peer feedback on their study of how microplastics and nanoplastics trigger inflammation in nasal airway cells, acknowledging the need for better controls, additional plastic types, and longer exposure time points in future experiments. The exchange highlights ongoing efforts to improve experimental rigor as scientists work to understand how inhaled plastic particles affect the upper respiratory tract.

2026 International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on allergic airways and potential pathogenesis: a review

This review examines how microplastics, which can enter the body through breathing, eating, and skin contact, may affect allergic airway conditions. Researchers found evidence that microplastics can damage airway lining cells, disrupt the protective barrier of the respiratory tract, and trigger heightened airway reactivity. The study suggests that chronic microplastic exposure may worsen allergic airway inflammation, though more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms involved.

2025 Environmental Geochemistry and Health 2 citations
Article Tier 2

The Role of the Environment and Occupational Exposures in Chronic Rhinosinusitis

This review examines how environmental exposures including air pollution, tobacco smoke, occupational chemicals, and microplastics may contribute to chronic sinus inflammation. Researchers found growing evidence that these exposures can trigger or worsen chronic rhinosinusitis by disrupting the nasal microbiome and immune responses. The study highlights microplastics as an emerging factor in respiratory health that warrants further investigation.

2025 Current Allergy and Asthma Reports 4 citations
Article Tier 2

In Reference to Role of Microplastics in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Without Nasal Polyps

This commentary responds to a study on the role of microplastics in chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps, offering a critical appraisal and additional perspective on the findings and their implications for sinonasal disease research.

2024 The Laryngoscope 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastic exposure in nasal lavage fluid and the influence of face masks

This study measured microplastics in nasal fluid from college students and found that wearing surgical masks actually increased microplastic exposure compared to no mask or cotton masks. Surgical masks released polycarbonate particles, and longer wear times led to higher microplastic levels. The findings suggest that while masks protect against airborne pathogens, they may be an overlooked source of microplastic inhalation.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 14 citations