Papers

61,005 results
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Systematic Review Tier 1

The clinical relevance of microplastic exposure on colorectal cancer: A systematic review

This systematic review of four studies found that microplastic accumulation in colorectal cancer tissue (25.9-32.2 particles/g) was significantly higher than in healthy controls, with polyamide, polycarbonate, and polypropylene as the most common polymers detected. While a causal relationship has not been established, the evidence points to microplastics as a potential environmental factor in colorectal cancer development.

2025 Cancer Epidemiology 7 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Invisible invaders: unveiling the carcinogenic threat of microplastics and nanoplastics in colorectal cancer-a systematic review

This systematic review examines the potential link between microplastics and nanoplastics and colorectal cancer. The research highlights how these tiny particles may contribute to cancer development through mechanisms like chronic inflammation and cellular damage in the gut. While more studies are needed, the findings raise important questions about the long-term consequences of ingesting plastic particles.

2025 Frontiers in Public Health 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Orally Ingested Micro- and Nano-Plastics: A Hidden Driver of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Colorectal Cancer.

This review synthesizes evidence linking ingested micro- and nano-plastics to inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer risk, proposing that microplastics act as a hidden driver of gut inflammation in vulnerable populations. The authors argue that intestinal accumulation of microplastics triggers immune and oxidative stress pathways that contribute to disease progression.

2024 Cancers
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastics and Colorectal Cancer: Presence in Human Colorectal Tissues and Associations with Tumor Biology- A Systematic Review

This review of 13 studies found that tiny plastic particles called microplastics are present in human colon tissues, with higher amounts found in cancerous tumors compared to healthy tissue. The research suggests these plastic particles may contribute to colon cancer development by causing inflammation and creating conditions that help tumors grow. While more research is needed to prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship, this highlights growing concerns about how plastic pollution in our environment and food supply might affect human health.

2026
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and Cancer: A Comprehensive Review of Their Impact on Tumor Progression and Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis

This comprehensive review examines the growing body of evidence linking microplastic exposure to various types of cancer, including colorectal, lung, liver, and breast cancers. Researchers found that microplastics and nanoplastics may promote tumor progression through mechanisms including oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and disruption of cellular signaling pathways. While the evidence is still emerging, the study highlights the need for further research into the potential cancer-related risks of widespread microplastic exposure.

2025 Journal of Environmental Pathology Toxicology and Oncology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics: An emerging environmental risk factor for gut microbiota dysbiosis and cancer development?

This review examines how microplastics may disrupt the gut microbiome and immune system in ways that could promote cancer development. Evidence from recent studies suggests microplastics can cause chronic inflammation, alter the balance of gut bacteria, and trigger molecular pathways linked to several cancer types including lung, liver, breast, and colon cancer. While more human research is needed, the review highlights a concerning connection between microplastic exposure, gut health, and cancer risk.

2025 Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and the Rising Tide of Early‐Onset Colorectal Cancer: Exploring the Environmental Gut Connection

This paper explores the potential connection between microplastic exposure and the rising rates of early-onset colorectal cancer. The study discusses how microplastics may interact with the gut environment, suggesting that further research is needed to understand whether environmental microplastic contamination could be contributing to this emerging health trend.

2025 ANZ Journal of Surgery 1 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

From Exposure to Oncogenesis: the Role of Microplastics and Associated Pollutants in Cancer - a Literature Review

This literature review examined the growing evidence linking microplastic exposure to cancer development. Microplastics have been found in human lung, liver, and colon tissue, and research suggests they may promote cancer through chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and by carrying known carcinogens like heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants into the body.

2025 International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science
Article Tier 2

The Relationship Between Microplastics and Nanoplastics with Cancer: An Emerging Health Concern

This review explores the emerging relationship between micro- and nanoplastic exposure and cancer risk in humans. Researchers summarized evidence suggesting that microplastics can carry carcinogenic substances and may trigger inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways linked to tumor development. The study highlights that while early evidence raises concern, more research is needed to establish clear causal connections between plastic particle exposure and specific cancer types.

2024 International Journal of Hematology and Oncology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Microscopic menace: exploring the link between microplastics and cancer pathogenesis

This review examines the growing evidence linking microplastic exposure to cancer development in humans. Microplastics can accumulate in the body and trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and other biological changes associated with tumor growth. While more clinical research is needed, the review highlights that microplastics should be taken seriously as a potential factor in cancer risk.

2025 Environmental Science Processes & Impacts 8 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Image 1_Invisible invaders: unveiling the carcinogenic threat of microplastics and nanoplastics in colorectal cancer-a systematic review.png

This systematic review examines the potential link between microplastics and colorectal cancer. It found that humans ingest over 70,000 microplastic particles annually, and that higher concentrations of micro- and nanoplastics have been observed in colorectal tumor tissues compared to healthy tissue, suggesting a possible connection worth further investigation.

2025 Figshare
Systematic Review Tier 1

Image 2_Invisible invaders: unveiling the carcinogenic threat of microplastics and nanoplastics in colorectal cancer-a systematic review.png

This systematic review examines the potential link between microplastics and colorectal cancer. It found that humans ingest over 70,000 microplastic particles annually, and that higher concentrations of micro- and nanoplastics have been observed in colorectal tumor tissues compared to healthy tissue, suggesting a possible connection worth further investigation.

2025 Figshare
Systematic Review Tier 1

Image 3_Invisible invaders: unveiling the carcinogenic threat of microplastics and nanoplastics in colorectal cancer-a systematic review.png

This systematic review examines the potential link between microplastics and colorectal cancer. It found that humans ingest over 70,000 microplastic particles annually, and that higher concentrations of micro- and nanoplastics have been observed in colorectal tumor tissues compared to healthy tissue, suggesting a possible connection worth further investigation.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Microplastics’ Impact on the Development of AOM/DSS-Induced Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer in Mice

Researchers used a mouse model of colitis-associated colorectal cancer and found that chronic polystyrene microplastic exposure (1.48 mg/kg/day for 12 weeks) increased tumor nodule number and promoted cancer development, providing experimental evidence linking microplastic ingestion to colorectal carcinogenesis.

2025 International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Article Tier 2

Could Microplastics Be a Driver for Early Onset Colorectal Cancer?

This paper explores whether microplastics could be contributing to the rising rates of colorectal cancer in people under 50. The timing of this increase lines up with the mass production of plastics starting in the 1950s, and microplastics are known to disrupt the gut lining and interact with gut bacteria in ways that could promote cancer. While not proven, the authors argue this connection deserves urgent research given how much plastic humans now ingest.

2023 Cancers 77 citations
Review Tier 2

Cellular mechanisms of microplastic and nanoparticle exposure and its relationship with metabolic diseases: Literature review

This literature review examined how microplastic and nanoparticle exposure affects cellular mechanisms related to metabolic disease, finding evidence that these contaminants disrupt insulin signaling, alter lipid metabolism, and may contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome.

2025 Biological Environment and Pollution
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as emerging carcinogens: from environmental pollutants to oncogenic drivers

This review examines growing evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics may play a role in cancer development, with these particles found in human tumor tissues from the lungs, colon, stomach, breast, and other organs. The particles appear to promote cancer through chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, DNA damage, and disruption of key cancer-related signaling pathways. While direct proof of causation in humans is still lacking, the accumulating evidence from lab studies, animal experiments, and human tissue analysis suggests microplastics deserve serious attention as potential contributors to cancer risk.

2025 Molecular Cancer 7 citations
Article Tier 2

From exposure to oncogenesis: a review on the multifaceted roles of microplastics in tumor initiation and progression

This review examined the evidence linking microplastic exposure to tumor initiation and progression, covering physical, chemical, and inflammatory mechanisms by which MPs may promote oncogenesis. The authors conclude that while current evidence is largely preclinical, accumulating data warrant serious concern about microplastics as environmental carcinogens.

2025 Journal of Translational Medicine
Article Tier 2

Why Is Colorectal Cancer Occurring Earlier? Metabolic Dysfunction, Underrecognized Carcinogens, and Emerging Controversies

Researchers reviewed the rising incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer in people under 50, synthesizing epidemiological, molecular, and multi-omics evidence that implicates metabolic dysfunction, accelerated epigenetic aging, gut microbiome dysbiosis, and modern environmental exposures including micro- and nanoplastics as converging contributors to this trend.

2026 Current Obesity Reports
Article Tier 2

Associations between microplastics in human feces and colorectal cancer risk

In a study of 258 colorectal cancer patients and 493 healthy controls, researchers found significantly higher levels of microplastics in the stool of cancer patients, with those in the highest exposure group having 11 times the odds of colorectal cancer. This is one of the first studies in humans to provide epidemiological evidence of a potential link between microplastic exposure and cancer risk, though more research is needed to determine if the relationship is causal.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics: an often-overlooked issue in the transition from chronic inflammation to cancer

This review explores how microplastics that accumulate in the human body may trigger long-lasting inflammation, which is a known driver of cancer development. The authors describe how microplastics can disrupt the gut microbiome, activate immune responses, and alter signaling pathways in ways that could promote tumor growth over time.

2024 Journal of Translational Medicine 46 citations
Article Tier 2

A Comprehensive Narrative Review of Potential Gastrointestinal Adverse Effects From Micro(nano) Plastic Exposure

This narrative review synthesizes evidence on gastrointestinal adverse effects of micro- and nanoplastic exposure, examining how these particles interact with gut microbiota, mucosal barriers, and immune tissue to contribute to inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, and colorectal cancer risk.

2025 Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Article Tier 2

Insights into the potential carcinogenicity of micro- and nano-plastics.

This review examined existing evidence on the carcinogenic potential of micro- and nano-plastics, finding studies demonstrating genotoxicity, oxidative DNA damage, disruption of cell signaling, and tumor-promoting effects, while noting that direct human carcinogenicity data remain limited and mechanistic pathways require further investigation.

2023 Mutation research. Reviews in mutation research
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Impact of Microplastic Exposure on Human Health: A Systematic Review of Mechanisms, Biomarkers, and Clinical Outcomes

This systematic review found that microplastics have been detected in human blood, placental tissue, and gastrointestinal samples, with proposed health mechanisms including oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, endocrine disruption, and gut microbiome alterations. While direct clinical evidence remains limited, the accumulating laboratory and observational data point to microplastics as a plausible contributor to multiple disease pathways.

2025 Cureus