Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Exploring the impact of polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics on male reproductive health: Insights from a mouse model study

Researchers investigated the impact of polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics on male reproductive health, examining whether nanoplastic exposure contributes to infertility by affecting sperm function, hormone levels, or testicular tissue. Results showed PET nanoplastics impaired reproductive endpoints in the male reproductive system, adding to growing concern about plastic particle effects on fertility.

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

Assessing the impact of sub-chronic polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastic exposure on male reproductive health in mice

Researchers exposed male mice to nanoplastics made from PET (the same plastic used in water bottles and food containers) and found significant damage to their reproductive health. The nanoplastics reduced sperm quality, damaged testicular tissue, and disrupted hormone levels, raising concerns about how everyday plastic packaging may affect male fertility.

2025 Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Unseen Threats: The Long‐term Impact of PET‐Microplastics on Development of Male Reproductive Over a Lifetime

Mice that ingested tiny PET plastic particles (the same plastic used in water bottles) over 29 weeks showed serious damage to their reproductive systems. Males had 69% fewer sperm, 24% less testosterone, and significantly smaller reproductive organs. These findings raise concerns that long-term exposure to microplastics from everyday plastics could harm male fertility in humans.

2025 Advanced Science 12 citations
Article Tier 2

The emerging risk of exposure to nano(micro)plastics on endocrine disturbance and reproductive toxicity: From a hypothetical scenario to a global public health challenge

Researchers administered polystyrene nanoplastics orally to male rats for five weeks and found significant reductions in testosterone, LH, and FSH levels, sperm DNA damage, altered testicular gene expression, and dose-dependent histological lesions, indicating that nanoplastic exposure disrupts the hormonal axis governing male reproductive function.

2020 Environmental Pollution 297 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Unravelling the potential mechanisms of nano- and microplastic toxicity to the male reproductive system: A systematic review

This systematic review found that micro- and nanoplastics accumulate in the testes and epididymis in rodent models, disrupting the blood-testis barrier, increasing germ cell death, reducing sperm motility, and causing hormone imbalance through oxidative stress and inflammation. Smaller nanoplastics penetrate tissues more readily for molecular disruption, while larger microplastics cause greater structural damage.

2025 Reproductive Toxicology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Reproductive toxicity of polystyrene microplastics: In vivo experimental study on testicular toxicity in mice

Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene microplastics and examined the effects on male reproductive function. They found that microplastic exposure significantly reduced viable sperm count, increased sperm abnormalities, and caused structural damage to testicular tissue, suggesting that microplastics may pose risks to male fertility.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 437 citations
Article Tier 2

Prenatal and postnatal exposure to polystyrene microplastics induces testis developmental disorder and affects male fertility in mice

Researchers exposed pregnant mice and their offspring to polystyrene microplastics from gestation through early life and found significant disruption to testicular development and male reproductive function. The exposed males showed reduced sperm quality, lower testosterone levels, and structural damage to testicular tissue. The study suggests that early-life microplastic exposure may have lasting effects on male fertility.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 116 citations
Article Tier 2

Male infertility and its link to microplastics: A sterile future

This review examines the link between microplastic exposure and male infertility, summarizing evidence that microplastics and their chemical additives disrupt reproductive hormones, sperm quality, and testicular function in animal models and human studies.

2024 Journal of Biomedical Sciences
Article Tier 2

The male reproductive toxicity after nanoplastics and microplastics exposure: Sperm quality and changes of different cells in testis

A mouse study compared the reproductive toxicity of nanoplastics versus microplastics and found that both damaged the testes after 12 weeks of exposure, but microplastics caused more severe harm in some measures. The plastics disrupted sperm production, caused inflammation and oxidative stress, and damaged the cells that support sperm development. These findings suggest that plastic particle exposure could contribute to male fertility problems, with different particle sizes affecting reproductive health through different biological pathways.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 51 citations
Review Tier 2

The Threat of Micro-/Nanoplastics to Male Fertility: A Review of the Data and the Importance of Future Research

This review synthesizes findings from 21 studies examining how micro- and nanoplastics and their associated endocrine-disrupting chemicals affect male reproductive health at the cellular level. Researchers found evidence of multiple toxicity mechanisms including damage to the blood-testis barrier, disruption of hormone signaling, oxidative stress, and structural damage to testicular tissues. The study notes that while these findings from cell and animal studies are concerning, translating the results to human health requires further research with realistic exposure conditions.

2025 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Different types of nanoplastics exert varying degrees of toxicity on human sperm at semen-related concentrations

Researchers detected multiple types of nanoplastics in human semen using pyrolysis gas chromatography and then tested their effects on sperm function at the concentrations actually found. Polyethylene showed the highest toxicity, significantly reducing sperm viability, motility, and mitochondrial function, while polypropylene had no observable effects at semen-related concentrations. The findings indicate that different nanoplastic types pose varying levels of risk to male reproductive health.

2025 Reproductive Toxicology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induced male reproductive toxicity in mice

Researchers exposed male mice to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and found that the particles accumulated in testicular tissue and entered reproductive cells. After 28 days of exposure, sperm quality and testosterone levels declined, and tissue examination revealed disorganized sperm-producing cells and inflammation. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may pose risks to male reproductive health in mammals.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 607 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the Biological Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Spermatogenesis: Insights From Transcriptomic Analysis in Mouse Spermatocytes

Researchers exposed mouse spermatocytes to polystyrene nanoplastics and observed membrane disruption, mitochondrial damage, increased oxidative stress, and DNA damage within 24 hours. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 134 genes with altered expression, many linked to critical reproductive processes like sperm development and mitochondrial organization. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure may interfere with male reproductive health at the cellular and genetic level.

2024 International Journal of Toxicology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of nano and microplastics on the reproduction system: In vitro and in vivo studies review

This review summarizes both lab and animal studies on how micro and nanoplastics affect the reproductive system in males and females. Evidence shows that microplastics can reduce sperm quality, damage ovaries, disrupt hormone levels, and even cross the placenta during pregnancy. The findings raise significant concerns about how widespread microplastic exposure might contribute to fertility problems and reproductive health issues in humans.

2023 Food and Chemical Toxicology 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Size-dependent deleterious effects of nano- and microplastics on sperm motility

In a mouse study, nano- and microplastics of four different sizes all impaired sperm movement quality, with the smallest particles (25-30 nanometers) causing the most damage. The tiny particles were able to penetrate into testicular cells, while larger particles could not. This research adds to growing evidence that microplastic exposure at environmentally realistic levels could contribute to declining male fertility, with nanoplastics posing the greatest risk due to their ability to enter reproductive tissues.

2024 Toxicology 13 citations
Review Tier 2

"Unseen Dangers: The Effects of Micro- and Nanoplastics on Human Reproductive Health - A Narrative Review"

This review examines the effects of micro- and nanoplastics on human reproductive health, covering evidence from in vitro, animal, and epidemiological studies showing that plastic particles can disrupt hormone signaling, sperm function, ovarian development, and placental integrity.

2025 Recent Advances in Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery
Article Tier 2

Oral exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics reduced male fertility and even caused male infertility by inducing testicular and sperm toxicities in mice

Researchers fed male mice polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes (25, 50, and 100 nm) for 56 days and found that all sizes reduced fertility and some caused complete infertility. The nanoplastics accumulated in the testes, causing oxidative stress, cell death, and inflammation that damaged sperm and reproductive tissue. This study raises concerns that human exposure to nanoplastics through food and water could contribute to declining male fertility.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 130 citations
Article Tier 2

The reproductive and transgenerational toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics: A threat to mammalian fertility in both sexes

This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics can accumulate in reproductive organs and harm fertility in both males and females. In animal studies, exposure led to damaged sperm, disrupted hormones, and abnormal ovary and uterus structure. Offspring of exposed mothers also showed metabolic problems, immune issues, and cognitive disorders, suggesting these particles may affect future generations.

2023 Journal of Applied Toxicology 65 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics differentially impact mouse ovarian follicle function

Researchers exposed mouse ovarian follicles to polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations and found both impaired follicle development and hormone production, with PET causing more severe effects — raising concerns given its widespread use in food packaging.

2025
Article Tier 2

Toxicity to the Male Reproductive System after Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics: A Macrogenomic and Metabolomic Analysis

Researchers exposed male mice to polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes through their drinking water for four months and found significant harm to reproductive function. The nanoplastics disrupted gene activity and metabolic pathways in the gut, which was linked to reduced sperm quality and testicular damage. The study suggests that long-term nanoplastic exposure through drinking water may pose risks to male reproductive health.

2024 Toxics 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection and characterization of microplastics in the human testis and semen

Researchers detected microplastics in both human testis tissue and semen samples for the first time, finding an average of about 12 particles per gram in testis and different plastic types in semen. Polystyrene dominated in testis while polyethylene and PVC were most common in semen, providing critical evidence that microplastics can pollute the male reproductive system and raising concerns about potential fertility impacts.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 390 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastics and male reproductive system: A comprehensive review based on cellular and molecular effects

This comprehensive review examines how microplastics affect the male reproductive system at cellular and molecular levels, drawing on studies from multiple scientific databases. Researchers found that microplastics can damage testicular structure and function, impair spermatogenesis, and disrupt sperm parameters through mechanisms including oxidative stress, inflammation, and activation of cell death pathways. The review highlights that microplastics reduce ATP production and trigger signaling cascades that may contribute to male fertility problems.

2026 Toxicology Reports
Article Tier 2

Research Progress in Reproductive Toxicity of Micro- and Nanoplastics on Males and Its Mechanisms

This review summarized research on the reproductive toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in males, finding that MNPs accumulate in reproductive organs and cause toxicity through oxidative stress, hormonal disruption, and DNA damage, with implications for both animal and human reproductive health.

2025 Hans Journal of Food and Nutrition Science
Article Tier 2

Understanding the impact of nanoplastics on reproductive health: Exposure pathways, mechanisms, and implications

This review summarizes existing research on how nanoplastics (tiny plastic particles smaller than one micrometer) affect reproductive health in animals and potentially humans. Studies show that nanoplastics can accumulate in reproductive organs including the placenta, and evidence from animal studies links exposure to hormone disruption, reduced fertility, and developmental problems. The authors highlight a significant knowledge gap about nanoplastic effects on human reproduction, despite growing evidence that these particles reach our reproductive systems.

2024 Toxicology 16 citations