Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

In vitro bioassays as a tool to evaluate risk assessment of micro and nanoplastics

Researchers reviewed the use of in vitro bioassays for evaluating the risks of micro- and nanoplastics at relevant biological barriers including the gut, lung, and placenta. Cell-based assays were identified as valuable tools for mechanistic investigation, but require standardization before results can be used in formal risk assessment.

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

Can the impact of micro- and nanoplastics on human health really be assessed using in vitro models? A review of methodological issues

This review examines whether lab-based cell studies can reliably predict how micro and nanoplastics affect human health. The authors found significant inconsistencies in how researchers choose plastic particle types, doses, and exposure methods, making it hard to compare results across studies. The paper calls for standardized testing protocols so that lab findings can more accurately reflect real-world microplastic exposure risks to people.

2023 Environment International 34 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

Current Insights into Potential Effects of Micro-Nanoplastics on Human Health by in-vitro Tests

This review summarizes current evidence on how micro- and nanoplastics may affect human health, based on in-vitro laboratory studies. The research indicates that these tiny plastic particles can cause oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in human cells, and that their effects vary depending on size, shape, polymer type, and chemical additives present.

2021 Frontiers in Toxicology 68 citations
Article Tier 2

Is cell culture a suitable tool for the evaluation of micro- and nanoplastics ecotoxicity?

This review assessed cell culture as a tool for evaluating micro- and nanoplastic ecotoxicity in aquatic organisms, identifying its advantages for high-throughput screening while noting limitations related to relevance to whole-organism and ecosystem-level effects.

2021 Ecotoxicology 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Human exposure to micro- and nanoplastic: biological effects and health consequence

This review summarized the biological effects and health consequences of human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics, covering routes of uptake (ingestion, inhalation, dermal), cellular toxicity mechanisms, and systemic health risks identified in recent experimental and epidemiological studies.

2023 Reviews in Biological and Biomedical Sciences 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics: challenges of assessment in biological samples and their implication for in vitro and in vivo effects

This review examines the challenges of detecting and assessing microplastics in biological samples, noting that analytical limitations and lack of standardized methods hinder our understanding of health effects. The study highlights that humans are exposed to microplastics primarily through ingestion and inhalation, and that more long-term studies with standardized protocols are needed to understand the full scope of potential biological impacts.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies on the potential health repercussions of micro- and nanoplastics

This review synthesizes evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies on the potential health effects of micro- and nanoplastics. Researchers found that studies have documented plastic particle absorption by cells, immune responses, and effects on multiple organ systems, though the study notes that more research is needed to fully characterize the health implications for humans.

2021 Chemosphere 93 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro/nanoplastics and human health: A review of the evidence, consequences, and toxicity assessment

This review summarizes evidence that micro and nanoplastics have been found in multiple human organs and body fluids, where they can alter cell shape, damage mitochondria, reduce cell survival, and cause oxidative stress. The health effects depend heavily on the size, shape, and chemical makeup of the particles, with smaller nanoplastics generally posing the greatest risk because they penetrate deeper into tissues. The review provides a framework for assessing how dangerous different types of plastic particles are to human health.

2025 Food and Chemical Toxicology 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic toxicity: mechanisms, assessment methods, and future research directions

This review synthesizes current knowledge on microplastic toxicity mechanisms, integrating physical, chemical, and biological pathways into a unified framework. Researchers examined assessment methods across aquatic organisms, terrestrial species, and human cell models, identifying critical knowledge gaps and recommending standardized approaches for future microplastic toxicity research.

2026 Frontiers in Toxicology
Article Tier 2

An In Vitro Assay to Quantify Effects of Micro- and Nano-Plastics on Human Gene Transcription

Researchers developed an in vitro assay to quantify how micro- and nano-plastics affect human gene transcription, demonstrating that internalized plastic particles can alter gene expression patterns in human cells, providing a standardized tool for assessing plastic particle toxicity.

2023 Microplastics 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro-and Nanoplastic-Induced Biochemical Toxicity: Emerging Mechanisms and Health Risks Across Biological Systems

This comprehensive review synthesizes current understanding of how micro- and nanoplastics cause biochemical toxicity across biological systems, from plants and invertebrates to vertebrates and humans. Key mechanisms include oxidative stress, membrane disruption, immune activation, genotoxicity, endocrine disruption, and microbiome perturbation, all modulated by particle size, shape, and surface chemistry. The authors highlight critical gaps in standardization, chronic low-dose effect data, and the need for translatable biomarkers for risk assessment.

2026 IDOSR JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY BIOTECHNOLOGY AND ALLIED FIELDS
Article Tier 2

Microplastics: challenges of assessment in biological samples and their implication for in vitro and in vivo effects

This review covers how microplastics enter the human body through ingestion and inhalation, the challenges of detecting and measuring them in biological samples, and the evidence for harmful effects ranging from inflammation to hormonal disruption. Standardising methods for measuring microplastics in tissues and bodily fluids is a key obstacle to advancing human health research. The review provides a useful framework for understanding what we know and what still needs to be established about microplastic risks to people.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
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

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
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
Article Tier 2

Human Toxicity of Nano‐ and Microplastics

This review summarizes current evidence on the human toxicity of nano- and microplastics, covering ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure routes and the biological effects documented in experimental systems. The authors assess the state of the evidence and identify key gaps for risk characterization.

2024 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Adverse outcome pathways and in vitro toxicology strategies for microplastics hazard testing

Researchers proposed using the adverse outcome pathway framework to systematically assess microplastic hazards to human health, identifying mechanistic parallels with other well-characterized stressors that can guide prioritization of in vitro testing strategies for particles of different sizes, shapes, and chemistries.

2021 Current Opinion in Toxicology 22 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Assessing the Impact of Nanoplastics in Biological Systems: Systematic Review of In Vitro Animal Studies

This systematic review of lab studies found that nanoplastics can damage cells in the gut, lungs, liver, brain, and reproductive organs of animals. These ultra-small plastic particles appear capable of crossing biological barriers and causing inflammation and oxidative stress, raising concerns about similar effects in humans.

2025 Journal of Xenobiotics 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic Toxicity: Insights and Challenges from Experimental Model Systems

This review summarizes what researchers have learned about nanoplastic toxicity from studies in cell cultures, aquatic organisms, and terrestrial animals. Evidence indicates that nanoplastics can be internalized by cells through various mechanisms and their toxicity depends on factors like particle size, surface modifications, and concentration. The study identifies key knowledge gaps and recommends more systematic research to better understand the health risks these particles may pose to humans.

2022 Small 85 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
Article Tier 2

Impact of microplastics and nanoplastics on human Health: Emerging evidence and future directions

This review summarizes current evidence on how micro- and nanoplastics enter the human body through food, air, and skin contact, and the cellular damage they may cause. While microplastic pollution is a recognized environmental hazard, the authors note that definitive evidence linking plastic particle exposure to specific health outcomes in humans is still limited and more realistic exposure studies are needed.

2025 Emerging contaminants 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Science-based evidence on pathways and effects of human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics

This review summarizes current scientific knowledge on how humans are exposed to micro- and nanoplastics through food, water, and air, and what health effects these particles may cause. Researchers highlight significant gaps in understanding the biological fate of plastics once inside the body and the difficulty of accurately measuring real-world exposure levels. The study recommends developing standardized adverse outcome pathways to improve risk assessment for plastic particle exposure.

2024 Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

A critical viewpoint on current issues, limitations, and future research needs on micro- and nanoplastic studies: From the detection to the toxicological assessment.

This critical review examines the current methods for detecting and characterizing micro- and nanoplastics in various environmental samples, as well as reported toxic effects from in vivo and in vitro studies. The authors found that while substantial effort has been made to understand microplastic behavior, the scientific community is still far from a complete understanding of how these particles behave in biological systems. The review calls for improved standardized protocols and more studies focused on uptake kinetics, accumulation, and biodistribution.

2019 Environmental Research 163 citations