Papers

61,005 results
|
Clinical Trial Tier 1

Reproductive toxicity and related mechanisms of micro(nano)plastics in terrestrial mammals: Review of current evidence.

This review of terrestrial mammal studies found that micro- and nanoplastics induce reproductive toxicity through oxidative stress, inflammation, endocrine disruption, and DNA damage, affecting both male and female fertility. In males, effects include blood-testis barrier disruption and impaired spermatogenesis, while females show compromised oocyte maturation, ovarian fibrosis, and diminished ovarian reserve, with particles also capable of crossing the maternal-fetal interface.

2024 Ecotoxicology and environmental safety
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
Systematic Review Tier 1

Reproductive and developmental implications of micro- and nanoplastic internalization: Recent advances and perspectives

This systematic review documented the detection of micro- and nanoplastics in human semen, placenta, and ovarian follicular fluid, and found evidence linking exposure to impaired sperm quality, disrupted ovarian function, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. In animal models, MNPs caused developmental toxicity and transgenerational effects, with oxidative stress, inflammation, and epigenetic modification identified as key mechanisms.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 23 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Unravelling the potential mechanisms of nano- and microplastic toxicity to the male reproductive system: A systematic review

This systematic review found that micro- and nanoplastics accumulate in the testes and epididymis in rodent models, disrupting the blood-testis barrier, increasing germ cell death, reducing sperm motility, and causing hormone imbalance through oxidative stress and inflammation. Smaller nanoplastics penetrate tissues more readily for molecular disruption, while larger microplastics cause greater structural damage.

2025 Reproductive Toxicology 2 citations
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

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

Microplastics and impaired male reproductive health—exploring biological pathways of harm: a narrative review

This narrative review summarizes the evidence that microplastics may harm male reproductive health through oxidative stress, hormone disruption, inflammation, and direct damage to reproductive cells. While animal studies show concerning effects on sperm quality, testicular function, and fertility, human studies are still lacking. The review calls for urgent research on microplastic impacts on human male fertility and for policies to reduce microplastic exposure.

2025 Biology of Reproduction 7 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
Article Tier 2

The reproductive and transgenerational toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics: A threat to mammalian fertility in both sexes

This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics can accumulate in reproductive organs and harm fertility in both males and females. In animal studies, exposure led to damaged sperm, disrupted hormones, and abnormal ovary and uterus structure. Offspring of exposed mothers also showed metabolic problems, immune issues, and cognitive disorders, suggesting these particles may affect future generations.

2023 Journal of Applied Toxicology 65 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

The emerging risk of microplastics and nanoplastics on the microstructure and function of reproductive organs in mammals: A systematic review of preclinical evidence

Preclinical evidence from 12 studies shows micro- and nanoplastics accumulate in mammalian gonads, causing dose-dependent damage including seminiferous degeneration, sperm malformation, reduced follicular growth, and impaired hormone levels through pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory mechanisms.

2022 Life Sciences 94 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of nano and microplastics on the reproduction system: In vitro and in vivo studies review

This review summarizes both lab and animal studies on how micro and nanoplastics affect the reproductive system in males and females. Evidence shows that microplastics can reduce sperm quality, damage ovaries, disrupt hormone levels, and even cross the placenta during pregnancy. The findings raise significant concerns about how widespread microplastic exposure might contribute to fertility problems and reproductive health issues in humans.

2023 Food and Chemical Toxicology 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
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
Meta Analysis Tier 1

A meta-analysis-based adverse outcome pathway for the male reproductive toxicity induced by microplastics and nanoplastics in mammals

This meta-analysis of 39 studies mapped the adverse outcome pathway for microplastic and nanoplastic-induced male reproductive toxicity in mammals. Increased reactive oxygen species triggers a cascade of cellular damage including mitochondrial dysfunction, sperm DNA damage, and disrupted hormone signaling, ultimately leading to reduced sperm quality, impaired spermatogenesis, and decreased testosterone levels.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Unraveling the threat: Microplastics and nano-plastics' impact on reproductive viability across ecosystems

This review summarizes research on how microplastics and nanoplastics affect reproduction across many species, from aquatic invertebrates to mammals including humans. In males, exposure leads to testicular damage, lower sperm quality, and hormone disruption; in females, it causes ovarian and uterine problems, inflammation, and reduced fertility. The evidence also shows these reproductive harms can be passed to offspring, raising serious concerns about long-term effects on human fertility.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Exposure Is Harmful to Male Reproductive Health

This chapter reviewed evidence on how microplastic exposure may harm male reproductive health through multiple pathways including ingestion and inhalation. The study examined mechanisms by which microplastics may disrupt reproductive function, including hormonal interference, oxidative stress, and inflammation in reproductive tissues, suggesting that widespread environmental microplastic contamination warrants attention as a potential factor in male fertility concerns.

2025 IntechOpen eBooks 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Reproductive toxicity of microplastics role of oxidative stress in cellular and molecular damage

This review synthesizes in vitro, in vivo, and epidemiological evidence on how microplastics cause reproductive toxicity, focusing on oxidative stress as the central mechanism. MPs infiltrate reproductive tissues, generate reactive oxygen species, and disrupt gametogenesis, hormone regulation, and embryonic development across multiple species.

2025 World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews
Article Tier 2

Mechanistic insights into microplastic-induced reproductive toxicity in aquatic organisms: A comprehensive review

This review summarizes how microplastics cause reproductive harm in aquatic organisms by disrupting hormones, triggering oxidative stress, and interfering with cell death pathways. These effects lead to reduced fertility, abnormal egg and sperm development, and changes that can pass to future generations. Since microplastics accumulate through the food chain, these reproductive effects in aquatic life could have broader implications for ecosystem health and the seafood that humans consume.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 8 citations
Review Tier 2

The Threat of Micro-/Nanoplastics to Male Fertility: A Review of the Data and the Importance of Future Research

This review synthesizes findings from 21 studies examining how micro- and nanoplastics and their associated endocrine-disrupting chemicals affect male reproductive health at the cellular level. Researchers found evidence of multiple toxicity mechanisms including damage to the blood-testis barrier, disruption of hormone signaling, oxidative stress, and structural damage to testicular tissues. The study notes that while these findings from cell and animal studies are concerning, translating the results to human health requires further research with realistic exposure conditions.

2025 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 1 citations
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

The emerging risk of exposure to nano(micro)plastics on endocrine disturbance and reproductive toxicity: From a hypothetical scenario to a global public health challenge

Researchers administered polystyrene nanoplastics orally to male rats for five weeks and found significant reductions in testosterone, LH, and FSH levels, sperm DNA damage, altered testicular gene expression, and dose-dependent histological lesions, indicating that nanoplastic exposure disrupts the hormonal axis governing male reproductive function.

2020 Environmental Pollution 297 citations
Article Tier 2

The Microplastics and Human Health: Focus on the Reproductive System

This review examined evidence that microplastics accumulate in human reproductive tissues and evaluated their potential effects on fertility and reproductive health. The authors found microplastics detected in testes, ovaries, placenta, and semen, and summarized mechanistic evidence linking them to hormonal disruption, oxidative stress, and impaired gamete function.

2025 Quality in Sport
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
Clinical Trial Tier 1

A review of the impact of micro‐ and nanoplastics on female reproduction: What we know and gaps in knowledge

This review examines what is known about how micro- and nanoplastics affect female reproductive health. Animal studies show these particles accumulate in ovarian tissue, disrupt hormones, and cause oxidative stress, leading to hormonal imbalances and ovarian damage, though research in humans is still limited.

2025 International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics