Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Polypropylene microplastics promote metastatic features in human breast cancer

Researchers found that polypropylene microplastics, one of the most common types found in human tissue, promoted the spread and invasion of human breast cancer cells in laboratory experiments. The microplastics activated specific signaling pathways that help cancer cells migrate to other parts of the body. While this is a lab study and not proof that microplastics cause cancer in people, it raises important questions about how chronic microplastic exposure might influence cancer progression.

2023 Scientific Reports 115 citations
Article Tier 2

The effects of polystyrene microplastics on human intestinal cells health and function

This study examined how polystyrene microplastics affect normal and cancer intestinal cells, addressing a gap left by previous research that used only cancer cell lines and pristine plastics. The work evaluated microplastic toxicity under more realistic conditions including digestive system biotransformation, assessing effects on nutrient uptake and cellular function.

2022 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics increase migration in normal lung cells while inducing differential cytotoxicity in lung cancer cells

Researchers exposed normal and cancerous human lung cell lines to polystyrene nanoplastics (50–1000 nm) and found that while normal cells showed increased migration, cancer cells exhibited variable cytotoxicity, highlighting cell-type-specific responses to nanoplastic exposure.

2025 Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Microplastics role in cell migration and distribution during cancer cell division

Researchers exposed human colorectal cancer cells to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics and found the particles persisted inside cells without being eliminated, were passed from parent to daughter cells during division, and significantly increased cell migration -- a key step in cancer spreading. These findings suggest microplastics could act as hidden promoters of tumor progression in the gut, where plastic exposure through food is highest.

2024 Chemosphere 84 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer and HFF-2 normal fibroblast cells: viability, cell death, cell cycle and antioxidant enzyme activity

Researchers exposed human breast cancer cells and normal skin cells to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that smaller particles at higher concentrations caused significant cell death through apoptosis (programmed cell death) and reduced the cells' ability to defend against oxidative damage. The dose- and size-dependent toxicity suggests that nanoplastics small enough to enter cells are more biologically harmful than larger particles.

2025 Environmental Sciences Europe 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Preliminary Study on the Toxic Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics in Human Colorectal Cells

Researchers evaluated the toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics in two sizes, 80 nanometers and 500 nanometers, on human colorectal cells in laboratory culture. They found that both sizes significantly reduced cell viability, induced cell death, and disrupted the normal cell cycle in a dose-dependent manner. The study provides preliminary evidence that microplastic particles at sizes relevant to human exposure may pose risks to intestinal cell health.

2026 E3S Web of Conferences
Article Tier 2

Investigation of potential toxic effects of nano- and microplastics on human endometrial stromal cells

Researchers exposed human endometrial cells (uterine lining cells) to polystyrene nano- and microplastics and found that smaller particles (100 nanometers) were taken up most readily, accumulating in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. At higher concentrations, the nanoplastics reduced cell growth and triggered cell death. These findings suggest that nanoplastics could pose a risk to uterine health and potentially affect fertility and pregnancy outcomes.

2025 Reproductive Toxicology 6 citations
Article Tier 2

The potential effects of microplastic pollution on human digestive tract cells

Researchers tested polystyrene particles of four different sizes on human colon and small intestine cells to assess the potential effects of microplastic ingestion. They found that the smallest nanoscale particles were more readily taken up by cells and caused greater reductions in cell viability and increased oxidative stress. The study suggests that smaller plastic particles may pose a greater risk to the human digestive tract than larger ones.

2021 Chemosphere 143 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene micro and nano-particles induce metabolic rewiring in normal human colon cells: A risk factor for human health

Researchers exposed normal human colon cells to polystyrene micro and nanoplastic particles and observed significant metabolic changes in the cells. The study found that these plastic particles altered energy metabolism and cellular pathways in ways that could increase vulnerability to disease. These findings raise concerns that routine ingestion of microplastics through contaminated food may affect normal intestinal cell function in humans.

2022 Chemosphere 93 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics on Human Kidney and Liver Cell Morphology, Cellular Proliferation, and Metabolism

Researchers exposed human kidney and liver cells to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and concentrations to assess their effects on cell health. They found that microplastics altered cell shape, reduced proliferation, and disrupted cellular metabolism, with smaller particles generally causing more damage. The findings suggest that microplastics reaching internal organs could have measurable effects at the cellular level.

2022 ACS Omega 183 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure of Human Lung Cells to Polystyrene Microplastics Significantly Retards Cell Proliferation and Triggers Morphological Changes

When human lung cells were exposed to polystyrene microplastics in the lab, cell growth slowed dramatically and their shape changed noticeably, even though the cells did not die outright. The 1-micrometer particles were taken up inside the cells, suggesting that inhaled microplastics could physically enter lung tissue. This is the first study to show that airborne microplastics can simultaneously slow human cell growth and alter cell structure, raising concerns about long-term respiratory health effects.

2021 Chemical Research in Toxicology 263 citations
Article Tier 2

Preliminary Study on the Toxic Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics in Human Colorectal Cells

Researchers tested the toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics on human colorectal cells in the laboratory and found that both 80-nanometer and 500-nanometer particles significantly reduced cell viability and induced programmed cell death. The effects were size- and concentration-dependent, with smaller particles generally causing greater toxicity, providing experimental evidence for evaluating the intestinal health risks of microplastic exposure.

2026 Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)
Article Tier 2

Exposure of microplastic at levels relevant for human health : cytotoxicity and cellular localization of polystyrene microparticles in four human cell lines

Researchers tested the cytotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics on four human cell lines at concentrations relevant to real-world human exposure from food, water, and packaging. At environmentally realistic doses, microplastics were taken up by cells but did not cause significant toxicity, though higher concentrations did produce cell damage, suggesting that current exposure levels may be near a threshold of concern.

2020 Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University)
Article Tier 2

Biological effects of polystyrene micro- and nano-plastics on human intestinal organoid-derived epithelial tissue models without and with M cells.

Researchers exposed human intestinal organoid-derived epithelial tissue models with and without M cells to polystyrene micro- and nano-plastics, finding that nano-plastics caused greater disruption of barrier integrity and uptake than micro-plastics, and that M cell-containing models showed enhanced particle translocation compared to standard epithelial models.

2023 Nanomedicine : nanotechnology, biology, and medicine
Article Tier 2

Micro(nano)plastics pollution and human health: How plastics can induce carcinogenesis to humans?

This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics enter the human body through food, water, and air, and how they may contribute to cancer development. Common plastic types like polystyrene and PVC, along with toxic chemicals they carry such as PAHs and PCBs, have been linked to DNA damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation, all of which can promote cancer. The paper highlights that while the evidence is growing, more research is needed to understand the full cancer risk from chronic microplastic exposure.

2022 Chemosphere 367 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioaccumulation Rate of Non-Biodegradable Polystyrene Microplastics in Human Epithelial Cell Lines

Researchers measured how quickly non-biodegradable polystyrene microplastics accumulate in human epithelial cell lines under laboratory conditions. They found that the cells took up and retained plastic particles over time, with accumulation rates depending on particle size and exposure duration. The study provides important baseline data for understanding how microplastics may build up in human tissues upon repeated exposure.

2024 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induce biochemical and metabolism changes in human placental explants

Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene microplastics on human placental cells, finding that exposure altered biochemical pathways and metabolic activity. The results suggest that microplastics reaching the placenta can disrupt cellular functions important for fetal development.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

The alarming link between environmental microplastics and health hazards with special emphasis on cancer

This review describes how microplastics enter the human body through the nose, skin, and mouth, then penetrate cells where they can alter gene expression, fuel inflammation, disrupt hormone signaling, and promote uncontrolled cell growth. Studies have linked microplastic exposure to cancers of the lungs, blood, breast, prostate, and ovaries, though the precise molecular mechanisms still need further investigation.

2024 Life Sciences 90 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics as a potential environmental health factor: effects of polystyrene nanoparticles on human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells

Researchers tested how polystyrene nanoparticles interact with human intestinal cells in the lab. They found that the nanoparticles were readily taken up by the cells in a concentration-dependent manner, but no significant toxic effects were observed under the conditions tested. The study suggests that while nanoplastics can enter gut cells, their short-term toxicity at the tested levels appears limited.

2019 Environmental Science Nano 203 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoparticles induce DNA damage and apoptosis in HeLa cells

Researchers exposed human HeLa cells to polystyrene nanoplastics — particles smaller than 100 nm — and found that even short exposures at low concentrations caused DNA damage, abnormal cell division, and signs of cell death including apoptosis and necrosis. The results suggest nanoplastics can directly damage human cell DNA, raising concerns about the health implications of everyday nanoplastic exposure.

2024 Heliyon 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics as a Potential Environmental Health Factor: From Molecular Interaction to Altered Cellular Function and Human Diseases

This review examined how nanoplastics — particularly polystyrene — interact with cells at the molecular level, potentially causing lasting changes that could contribute to developmental problems and degenerative disease. The study highlights growing concerns about nanoplastics as an emerging environmental health risk given their widespread presence in food, water, and air.

2021 Serbian Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research 1 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

A review of potential human health impacts of micro- and nanoplastics exposure

This systematic review summarized 133 studies on how micro- and nanoplastics affect human health based on mammalian research. The evidence points to cell damage, inflammation, gut disruption, and reproductive harm, though most studies focused on polystyrene particles and more research is needed on other common plastic types.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 211 citations
Article Tier 2

Adverse effect of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) on tube formation and viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Researchers tested the effects of polystyrene microplastics on human blood vessel cells grown in the laboratory and found that the particles reduced cell survival and inhibited the formation of new blood vessel structures. Smaller microplastics accumulated inside the cells more readily and triggered cell death through autophagy and necrosis. The study suggests that microplastics entering the bloodstream could potentially interfere with normal vascular function.

2021 Food and Chemical Toxicology 131 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