Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Recent insights into uptake, toxicity, and molecular targets of microplastics and nanoplastics relevant to human health impacts

This review summarizes what scientists know about how tiny plastic particles enter the human body and cause harm at the cellular level, including through inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of important cell signaling pathways. Americans are estimated to consume tens of thousands to millions of micro- and nanoplastic particles per year, and these particles can penetrate cells and tissues throughout the body.

2023 iScience 193 citations
Review Tier 2

Developmental and reproductive toxic effects of exposure to microplastics: A review of associated signaling pathways

This review examines how microplastic exposure affects reproductive and developmental health across multiple species, focusing on the biological signaling pathways involved. Researchers found that microplastics can trigger oxidative stress, inflammation, and hormonal disruption through specific cellular pathways, leading to reduced fertility and abnormal development. The study provides a molecular-level framework for understanding why microplastics may pose risks to reproductive health.

2022 Frontiers in Toxicology 85 citations
Article Tier 2

Cellular Impact of Micro(nano)plastics on Human Health: A Review.

This review examined how micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) entering the human body through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact affect cells and tissues. It synthesized evidence of oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, and endocrine disruption associated with MNP exposure.

2025 Toxics
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and human health: unraveling the toxicological pathways and implications for public health

This review pulls together recent research on how microplastics enter the human body and cause cellular damage through inflammation, oxidative stress, and direct cell injury. The authors highlight that microplastics can also amplify the harmful effects of other environmental pollutants they carry, creating combined health risks that are greater than either threat alone.

2025 Frontiers in Public Health 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Health Concerning Cellular Toxicity Mechanisms, Exposure Pathways, and Global Mitigation Strategies

This review synthesizes current knowledge on how micro- and nanoplastics cause cellular damage in the human body, covering mechanisms like oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, and disruption of cell signaling pathways. Researchers note that exposure occurs through multiple routes including ingestion and inhalation, allowing particles to reach organs throughout the body. The study highlights significant gaps in understanding long-term and low-dose exposure effects that are most relevant to everyday human contact with these particles.

2025 Life 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Small Plastics, Big Inflammatory Problems.

This review examined how micro- and nano-plastics trigger inflammatory responses through interactions with immune cells, finding that particles activate multiple signaling pathways including NF-kB and NLRP3 inflammasome, potentially contributing to chronic low-grade inflammation linked to cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, and cancer.

2023 Advances in experimental medicine and biology
Article Tier 2

Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Micro- and Nanoplastics Driving Adverse Human Health Effects

This review examines the biological mechanisms by which micro- and nanoplastics may cause harm in humans, including oxidative stress, inflammation, disruption of protective barriers, and immune system problems. Evidence from lab and animal studies suggests these particles can affect the gut, heart, brain, and reproductive systems, though human data is still limited to detecting plastics in tissues rather than proving they cause specific diseases. The authors highlight that most studies use higher doses than people actually encounter, making it important to develop research models that better reflect real-world chronic exposure.

2025 Toxics 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic pollution and its pathophysiological impacts on mammalian cells

This review examines the pathophysiological impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics on mammalian cells, discussing how environmental degradation of larger plastics generates micro- and nano-scale fragments that enter organisms through ingestion, accumulate via trophic transfer, and cause cellular toxicity. The authors synthesize laboratory evidence on MP and NP interactions with mammalian cells including membrane disruption, inflammation, and genotoxicity.

2022 IARJSET
Article Tier 2

Recent consequences of micro-nanaoplastics (MNPLs) in subcellular/molecular environmental pollution toxicity on human and animals

This review examines the subcellular and molecular mechanisms by which micro- and nanoplastics cause toxicity in humans and animals, focusing on oxidative stress, inflammation, cell death pathways, and endocrine disruption at the cellular level.

2022 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and nano-plastics activation of oxidative and inflammatory adverse outcome pathways

This review maps the biological harm caused by micro- and nanoplastics to formal toxicity pathways, finding that oxidative stress is a common starting point for damage at every level from cells to whole organisms. Researchers found that in ecological settings, this oxidative damage cascades into growth inhibition and behavioral changes, while in human health contexts it may trigger inflammatory responses. The study highlights that more mammalian research is needed to fully define the health risks of plastic particle exposure.

2020 Redox Biology 566 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity in vitro reveals potential impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics on human health: A review

This review summarizes laboratory cell-culture studies examining the potential health impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics on human cells. Researchers found evidence that these particles can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and disruption to normal cell functions across multiple cell types. The study suggests that while more research is needed, the in vitro evidence indicates microplastics and nanoplastics have the potential to affect human health through several biological pathways.

2021 Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 119 citations
Article Tier 2

Adverse Outcome Phenomena and Toxicity Mechanisms of Micro and Nanoplastics in Human Health

This review examines the growing evidence that micro- and nanoplastics can enter the human body through food, water, and air, and may contribute to harmful biological effects. Researchers found that these tiny particles can trigger oxidative stress, inflammation, and disruption of hormonal and immune systems in laboratory studies. The study highlights the need for a unified research approach to better understand how microplastic exposure may affect long-term human health.

2024 Nano LIFE 5 citations
Article Tier 2

The Impact of Microplastic on Human Health

This review synthesized evidence on microplastic exposure pathways and health effects in humans, finding that microplastics enter the body via ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact and are associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, genotoxicity, and endocrine disruption.

2021 Current Biotechnology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and Nanoplastics on Human Health and Diseases: Perspectives and Recent Advances

This review provides a comprehensive overview of how micro- and nanoplastics enter the human body through ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption, and how they can then travel through the bloodstream to reach virtually every organ. Researchers summarize evidence that these particles can trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of hormonal and immune functions. The study emphasizes that the ability of these particles to cross biological barriers and accumulate in tissues makes understanding their long-term health effects an urgent research priority.

2025 Microplastics 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Human exposure to microplastics: A review on exposure routes and public health impacts

This review examines how microplastics enter the human body through food, air, and skin contact and the health effects they can cause, including oxidative stress, inflammation, hormone disruption, and potential DNA damage. Despite growing evidence of harm, the exact routes plastics take through the body and the cellular mechanisms behind their effects are still not well understood, and there is an urgent need for standardized detection methods.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Polytetrafluorethylene microplastic particles mediated oxidative stress, inflammation, and intracellular signaling pathway alteration in human derived cell lines

Scientists tested PTFE (Teflon) microplastics on six types of human cells and found they caused oxidative stress, inflammation, and disrupted cell signaling pathways in most cell types. Smaller PTFE particles generally caused more damage than larger ones, and lung and intestinal cells were particularly affected. Since PTFE is widely used in nonstick cookware and other household products, these findings raise questions about health risks from Teflon-derived microplastic exposure.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 50 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Human Health: Toxicological Mechanisms Involving Oxidative Stress, Endocrine Interference, and Inflammatory Responses

This review of existing research shows that tiny plastic particles from broken-down plastic waste can harm our bodies in three main ways: by damaging cells, disrupting hormones, and causing inflammation. These microscopic plastics are now everywhere in our environment - in the air we breathe, water we drink, and food we eat - and studies suggest they may contribute to health problems affecting our hearts, digestive system, and other organs. While scientists are still studying exactly how dangerous these particles are to humans, the evidence suggests we should be concerned about our constant exposure to plastic pollution.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Micro and Nanoplastics on Human Health and Diseases: Perspectives and Recent Advances

This review covers how micro- and nanoplastic particles enter the human body through ingestion, inhalation, infusion, and skin absorption, distribute to virtually all tissues and organs via the circulatory system, and cause health impacts including inflammatory responses, cellular damage, and endocrine disruption.

2025 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

Cellular and Systemic Impacts of Microplastics and Nanoplastics

This review systematically examined the cellular and systemic health impacts of micro- and nanoplastics, covering uptake mechanisms, organ distribution, and effects on inflammation, oxidative stress, and endocrine function. The authors conclude that MNPs pose credible risks to multiple body systems and call for stronger regulatory action.

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

Cytotoxic Effects of Microplastics on Human Cells

This study reviewed and tested the cytotoxic effects of microplastics on human cells, finding that microplastic particles can cause cell damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress at relevant concentrations. The results support growing concern that microplastics ingested or inhaled by humans may pose direct health risks at the cellular level.

2021 DigiNole (Florida State University)
Article Tier 2

Cellular and Systemic Impacts of Microplastics and Nanoplastics

This review synthesized evidence on how micro- and nanoplastics cause cellular and systemic harm through inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and endocrine disruption across multiple organ systems. The authors emphasize that exposure is ubiquitous and that health impacts are no longer speculative.

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

Evaluation of polyethylene microplastics toxicity using Nrf2/ARE and MAPK/Nrf2 signaling pathways

Researchers exposed male and female rats to varying doses of polyethylene microplastics and found dose-dependent increases in oxidative stress markers and disruptions to reproductive hormone levels. They identified specific cellular signaling pathways, including the Nrf2 antioxidant response system, that were affected by microplastic exposure. The study suggests that microplastic ingestion may trigger oxidative damage and reproductive effects through identifiable molecular mechanisms.

2025 Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods 2 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
Systematic Review Tier 1

Effects of Microplastics on Human Physiology: Mechanisms of Toxicity and Health Risks

This systematic review of 48 studies confirmed that microplastics are present in human blood, placenta, and reproductive tissues. The research consistently shows these particles cause oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial damage, and hormonal disruption, pointing to potential links with reproductive problems, cardiovascular issues, and other chronic health conditions.

2025 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH & MEDICAL RESEARCH