Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Review of microplastics fate in humans with a focus on the urinary system

This review synthesized current knowledge on microplastic fate in the human body, with a particular focus on the urinary system as an excretion pathway. Evidence suggests microplastics can reach the kidneys and urinary tract, raising questions about chronic exposure effects on urinary function.

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

Micro/nano plastics in the urinary system: Pathways, mechanisms, and health risks.

This review synthesizes emerging evidence on how micro- and nano-plastics reach the urinary system, accumulate in kidney and bladder tissue, and cause damage through oxidative stress, inflammation, and disruption of cellular function. The authors conclude that the urinary system is a primary site of microplastic accumulation and call for more research on long-term health impacts.

2024 Environment international
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastic exposure and its consequences for renal and urinary health: systematic review of in vivo studies

This systematic review examines animal studies on how microplastic exposure affects the kidneys and urinary system. The evidence suggests that microplastics can accumulate in kidney tissue and may cause inflammation and oxidative stress, raising concerns about potential long-term effects on human kidney health as our exposure to these particles continues to grow.

2025 All Life 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and Kidneys: An Update on the Evidence for Deposition of Plastic Microparticles in Human Organs, Tissues and Fluids and Renal Toxicity Concern

This review summarizes the growing evidence that microplastics are found throughout the human body, including in the placenta, lungs, liver, heart, blood, and breast milk. While direct evidence for kidney damage in humans is still lacking, animal studies show that microplastics can cause kidney inflammation, cell death, and oxidative stress. The findings highlight that microplastics are accumulating in virtually every human organ, though the long-term health consequences remain unclear.

2023 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and nanoplastic in the human digestive and urinary system

This review summarized scientific evidence on how micro- and nanoplastics ingested through food reach the digestive and urinary systems, examining what is known about their behavior in the stomach, intestines, liver, and kidneys and the associated health risks.

2025 Acta Balneologica
Article Tier 2

First Evidence of Microplastics in Human Urine, a Preliminary Study of Intake in the Human Body

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers detected microplastic fragments in human urine samples from six volunteers in southern Italy using Raman spectroscopy. Four pigmented microplastic particles between 4 and 15 micrometers were identified, suggesting that microplastics can pass through the body and be excreted by the kidneys. This preliminary finding provides direct evidence that microplastics are not only ingested but can travel through the human body and reach the urinary system.

2022 Toxics 282 citations
Article Tier 2

A Snapshot into the Invasion of Plastics in Human Urine

Researchers analyzed human urine samples and detected synthetic microplastic fragments and fibers in all of them, using multiple spectroscopy techniques for confirmation. The particles included various polymer types in sizes ranging from nanometers to hundreds of micrometers. The findings provide evidence that microplastics are not only entering the human body but are passing through the urinary system, indicating widespread internal exposure.

2023 15 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastics and Human Health: A Comprehensive Review on Exposure Pathways, Toxicity, and Emerging Risks

This comprehensive review examines microplastic exposure pathways in humans, methods of detection, and the potential toxic effects on various biological systems. The study highlights growing evidence that microplastics can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact, and may affect multiple organ systems, though significant uncertainties remain about long-term health outcomes.

2026 Microplastics
Article Tier 2

#6111 First Identification and Characterization of Microplastics in Human Kidney and Urine

Researchers report the first identification of microplastics in human kidney tissue and urine samples. Using microscopy and spectroscopy, they detected plastic particles in all kidney and urine samples examined, with polyethylene and polypropylene among the most common types found. The study adds kidneys and urine to the growing list of human organs and body fluids where microplastics have been documented, raising questions about potential effects on kidney function.

2023 Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 18 citations
Article Tier 2

MicroRaman spectroscopy detects the presence of microplastics in human urine and kidney tissue

Scientists confirmed for the first time that microplastics accumulate in human kidney tissue, finding 26 plastic particles in kidney and urine samples using advanced spectroscopy. The most common plastics found were polyethylene and polystyrene, with particles ranging from 1 to 29 micrometers in kidneys, providing the first direct evidence that microplastics can deposit in human kidneys.

2024 Environment International 172 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Orally Ingested Microplastics on the Structure and Function of the Kidneys

This study reviewed the structural and functional effects of orally ingested microplastics on kidney tissue, synthesizing experimental evidence from animal and in vitro studies. Microplastic exposure was consistently associated with kidney histopathology including inflammation and fibrosis, with particle size, shape, and polymer type influencing the severity of renal damage.

2024 Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
Article Tier 2

Exposure and Health Effects of Microplastics in Humans

This doctoral thesis investigates exposure levels and health effects of microplastics in humans, synthesizing analytical chemistry and toxicological evidence on microplastic presence in human tissues and their potential biological impacts.

2025 Dipòsit Digital de la Universitat de Barcelona (Universitat de Barcelona)
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on the kidneys: a narrative review

This review summarizes growing evidence that microplastics can accumulate in the kidneys, where they may trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular damage that could worsen kidney function. People with chronic kidney disease may be especially vulnerable because impaired kidney filtration could allow microplastics to build up more readily in their bodies.

2024 Kidney International 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in humans: Current evidence of presence and their role in organ toxicity

This comprehensive review examined how microplastics enter the human body through ingestion, inhalation, dermal absorption, and maternal-fetal transfer, summarizing documented evidence of MP presence and toxic effects across multiple organs.

2025 International Journal of Biology Sciences
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in human urine: Characterisation using μFTIR and sampling challenges using healthy donors and endometriosis participants

Researchers analyzed urine samples from healthy individuals and endometriosis patients, detecting microplastics in the majority of both groups, with 22 different polymer types found. While microplastic levels were not significantly different between the two groups, the finding that plastics like polyethylene, polystyrene, and PTFE are being excreted in human urine confirms that these particles are circulating through the body.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 68 citations
Review Tier 2

Plastic induced urinary tract disease and dysfunction: a scoping review

This scoping review examined the evidence linking plastic and microplastic exposure to urinary tract diseases and bladder dysfunction. The authors found growing research showing that plastics and their chemical additives can be found in urine and urinary tissues, with potential effects on bladder health. The review calls on organizations like the World Health Organisation to reassess their position that microplastics in drinking water pose no health threat.

2024 Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology 19 citations
Article Tier 2

[Human Accumulation and Toxic Effects of Microplastics:A Critical Review].

This review summarizes how microplastics enter the human body through food, drinking water, and air, and where they tend to accumulate in organs and tissues. Researchers found evidence that microplastics can trigger inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in the body. The study calls for more research into the long-term health effects of continuous microplastic exposure in humans.

2024 PubMed 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of microplastics on human health: exposure mechanisms and potential health implications

This review examines how microplastics enter the human body through food, drinking water, and inhaled air, and summarizes what is known about their potential health effects. Researchers found that microplastics have been detected in human stool samples, blood, and lung tissue, and may carry harmful chemicals and pathogens. The study highlights that while evidence of direct health impacts is still emerging, the widespread presence of microplastics in everyday exposure pathways warrants serious attention.

2024 Quality in Sport 7 citations
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
Review Tier 2

Plastics, microplastics, and human contamination: A literature review

This literature review synthesizes research on human contamination by plastics and microplastics, covering ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure routes and summarizing documented health effects across organ systems.

2024 Seven Editora eBooks
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Environmental Setting: A Review on Sources, Exposure Routes and Potential Toxicities on Human Health

This review examines microplastics in environmental settings, synthesizing current knowledge on sources, distribution across terrestrial and aquatic compartments, fate processes, and ecological consequences. The authors identify priority research areas needed to address remaining uncertainties in microplastic risk assessment.

2024 Bioresources and Environment 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of microplastics and nanoplastics on human health: Mechanistic insights and exposure pathways

This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics enter the human body through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact, and deposit in tissues including the lungs, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract. Evidence indicates these particles can cross embryonic layers and reach the placenta, and may cause inflammation, oxidative stress, metabolic disruptions, and immune system effects upon interaction with biological tissues.

2025 Toxicology Letters 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastiques : une menace silencieuse pour vos reins ?

Researchers reviewed evidence on microplastic contamination and its potential effects on kidney health, noting that microplastics have been detected in kidneys and urine in humans. In vitro and animal studies suggest potential nephrotoxicity from microplastic exposure, and patients with kidney diseases may face increased risk due to higher exposure through medical procedures and reduced urinary elimination. The study calls for further research to clarify the relationship between microplastic exposure and kidney damage.

2026 Revue Médicale Suisse
Article Tier 2

Micro(nano)plastics, an emerging health problem

This review frames micro- and nanoplastics as an emerging human health problem, synthesizing evidence of exposure routes, organ-level accumulation, and biological effects, and calling for updated regulatory frameworks to address this novel class of environmental contaminants.

2025 Environmental Research and Ecotoxicity