Papers

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Article Tier 2

Additional file 1 of Fabrication of microplastic and nanoplastic particles and fibres for use in pulmonary toxicity studies

This is a supplementary data file for a study on fabricating micro- and nanoplastic particles for lung toxicity research. It does not contain standalone findings.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Fabrication of microplastic and nanoplastic particles and fibres for use in pulmonary toxicity studies

Researchers developed fabrication methods for polyamide, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate micro/nanoplastics in both particle and fiber forms, producing respirable-sized test materials with verified chemical purity for use in more environmentally realistic lung toxicity studies.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Fabrication of microplastic and nanoplastic particles and fibres for use in pulmonary toxicity studies

Researchers developed methods to fabricate polyamide, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate micro/nanoplastics in particle and fiber forms of respirable dimensions, addressing the limitation that most pulmonary toxicity studies have used only commercially available polystyrene spheres.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Fabrication of microplastic and nanoplastic particles and fibres for use in pulmonary toxicity studies

Researchers developed fabrication methods to produce micro- and nanoplastics from three environmentally relevant polymers (polyamide, polypropylene, and PET) in both particle and fiber shapes, addressing a critical gap in pulmonary toxicity research where most studies use only polystyrene spheres.

2025 Particle and Fibre Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Size- and polymer-dependent toxicity of amorphous environmentally relevant micro- and nanoplastics in human bronchial epithelial cells

This study examined how the size and type of plastic particles affect their toxicity to human lung cells. Researchers tested environmentally relevant micro- and nanoplastics with irregular shapes, rather than the uniform spheres typically used in lab studies, to better mimic real-world exposure. The findings contribute to a growing understanding that particle size and polymer composition both matter when assessing the potential health risks of inhaling airborne plastic particles.

2025 Microplastics and Nanoplastics 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and nanoplastics, emerging pollutants, increased the risk of pulmonary fibrosis in vivo and in vitro: A comparative evaluation of their potential toxicity effects with different polymers and size

Researchers compared the lung toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics made from polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene in mice and human lung cells. They found that all particle types induced signs of pulmonary fibrosis, inflammation, and tissue remodeling, with polystyrene nanoplastics causing the most severe effects. The study suggests that smaller nanoplastic particles and certain polymer types may pose greater risks to lung health.

2025 Toxicology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

88 Microplastic References for Inhalation Studies

This study developed standardized reference microplastic particles in multiple polymer types (TPU, PA-6, PET, LDPE) in the sub-10 micron respirable size range, addressing a critical gap in inhalation toxicology research where consistent reference materials have been lacking. Having well-characterized reference particles will allow different labs to produce comparable results when studying how inhaled microplastics affect lung cells.

2023 Annals of Work Exposures and Health
Article Tier 2

Production, labeling, and applications of micro- and nanoplastic reference and test materials

This study reviews methods for producing, labeling, and applying micro- and nanoplastic reference and test materials for research purposes. The researchers address the growing need for in-house production of standardized test materials, driven by challenges in extracting these particles from the environment and the limited range of commercially available options.

2025 Environmental Science Nano 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and Nanoplastic-Induced Respiratory Disease and Dysfunction: A Scoping Review

A systematic scoping review of 68 studies found that inhaled micro- and nanoplastics are detected in human lung tissue and associated with pulmonary inflammation, fibrosis, and impaired lung function, though most evidence comes from occupational settings and in vitro experiments.

2025 Microplastics
Article Tier 2

Preparation of Nanoplastic Particles as Potential Standards for the Study of Nanoplastics

Researchers developed methods to prepare well-defined nanoplastic particles as potential reference standards for nanoplastic research, addressing the critical shortage of reliable materials for toxicity studies and analytical method validation. The study characterized the size, shape, and surface properties of the produced particles to confirm their suitability as standards.

2024 YAKUGAKU ZASSHI 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Materials for Inhalation Studies: Preparation by Solvent Precipitation and Comprehensive Characterization

Researchers used solvent precipitation to produce respirable microplastic test materials smaller than 4 micrometers from four common plastic types for use in inhalation toxicity studies. They comprehensively characterized the resulting particles for chemical composition, molecular properties, size, shape, and potential contaminants. The study found that PET, PA-6, and TPU test materials were representative and suitable for inhalation studies, while LDPE posed challenges due to its hydrophobicity causing particle aggregation.

2025 Small 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Fabrication of Nylon-6 and Nylon-11 Nanoplastics and Evaluation in Mammalian Cells

Researchers fabricated well-characterized nylon-6 and nylon-11 nanoplastics and evaluated their effects on mammalian cells, addressing a critical gap since most toxicity studies rely on polystyrene beads that do not represent the diversity of plastics found in the environment.

2022 Nanomaterials 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics in primary bronchial epithelial cells of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Researchers investigated how micro- and nanoplastics affect lung cells taken from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition that already impairs breathing. The study aimed to determine whether plastic particle exposure poses additional toxic risk to people whose airways are already compromised.

2025 Microplastics and Nanoplastics
Article Tier 2

Pulmonary toxicity assessment of polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene microplastic fragments in mice

Researchers tested the lung toxicity of three common plastic types -- polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene -- in mice by exposing them to microplastic fragments. The study assessed how these inhaled microplastic particles from everyday plastics affect lung health, which is relevant since humans regularly breathe in airborne microplastics.

2024 Toxicological Research 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic and plastic pollution: impact on respiratory disease and health

This review pulls together evidence from lab studies, animal experiments, and workplace exposure research showing that inhaled micro- and nanoplastics can affect lung tissue and may contribute to respiratory diseases. However, the authors stress that it remains unclear how much damage occurs at the levels of plastic particles people actually breathe in daily life, highlighting the need for better measurements of real-world exposure.

2024 European Respiratory Review 88 citations
Article Tier 2

Hazard assessment of small-size plastic particles: is the conceptual framework of particle toxicology useful?

Researchers reviewed the toxicological evidence for micro- and nanoplastic hazards using a particle toxicology framework, finding that most cell culture studies show effects only at high concentrations and that animal studies have not demonstrated overt toxicity — while concluding that realistic low-dose studies using tissue models that mimic mammalian architecture are urgently needed to properly assess human health risk.

2019 Food and Chemical Toxicology 48 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Deleterious effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on rodent lungs: a systematic review

This systematic review summarizes research on how inhaled micro- and nanoplastics affect the lungs in animal studies. The findings show these particles can cause lung inflammation, tissue damage, and immune responses, suggesting that breathing in airborne microplastics may pose real risks to respiratory health.

2025
Article Tier 2

Respiratory Toxicity of Microplastics: Mechanisms, Clinical Outcomes, and Future Threats

This review summarized the respiratory toxicity of airborne microplastics, covering their sources, the routes by which they penetrate deep into lung tissue, and the range of clinical outcomes from chronic inflammation to potential malignancy. The authors warn that inhalation exposure represents an underappreciated and growing public health threat.

2025 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics in the Human Respiratory System

This research paper reports on the detection and characterization of nanoplastics in the human respiratory system, published in a leading pulmonary medicine journal. The study adds to growing evidence that extremely small plastic particles are present in human lungs. The findings underscore the importance of understanding inhalation as a key route of human exposure to plastic pollution.

2024 American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanotextiles — materials suitable for respiratory tract protection but a source of nano- and microplastic particles in the environment

This study found that nanotextile-based respiratory protective equipment releases nano- and microplastic particles during manufacture and use, raising concerns about occupational exposure and environmental contamination from protective gear intended to safeguard health.

2022 Acta Chimica Slovaca 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics in Simulated Human Lung Fluids: Aggregation Kinetics, Theoretical Model Simulation, and Effects on Pulmonary Bacteria

Researchers studied how nanoplastics behave when they reach the lungs by testing them in simulated lung fluids. The nanoplastics clumped together more in fluids that mimic inflamed lungs compared to healthy lung fluids, and they were toxic to bacteria that naturally live in the lungs. This suggests that people with existing lung conditions may be especially vulnerable to inhaled nanoplastic exposure.

2025 Environmental Science & Technology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Towards a risk assessment framework for micro- and nanoplastic particles for human health

This review proposes a framework for assessing the health risks of micro- and nanoplastics to humans, noting that current methods are inadequate because these particles come in countless types, sizes, and chemical compositions. The authors recommend focusing first on inhalation risks and suggest using existing approaches for evaluating low-toxicity particles and fibers as a starting point for plastic particle safety standards.

2024 Particle and Fibre Toxicology 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro and nano-plastics, a threat to human health?

This review examines the threat micro- and nanoplastics pose to human health, discussing how these persistent particles accumulate in organs including lungs, the gastrointestinal system, and blood, and how their chemical composition and size influence toxicity.

2022 PubMed 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of secondary microplastic on the respiratory system of BALB/c mice

Researchers exposed BALB/c mice to secondary microplastics derived from environmentally weathered plastic and assessed respiratory system effects. Secondary MPs caused greater pulmonary inflammation and oxidative stress than virgin particles, suggesting that real-world aged plastics carry higher respiratory toxicity risks than pristine particles used in most laboratory studies.

2025