Papers

61,005 results
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Systematic Review Tier 1

Deleterious effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on rodent lungs: a systematic review

This systematic review summarizes research on how inhaled micro- and nanoplastics affect the lungs in animal studies. The findings show these particles can cause lung inflammation, tissue damage, and immune responses, suggesting that breathing in airborne microplastics may pose real risks to respiratory health.

2025
Article Tier 2

Micro- and Nanoplastic-Induced Respiratory Disease and Dysfunction: A Scoping Review

A systematic scoping review of 68 studies found that inhaled micro- and nanoplastics are detected in human lung tissue and associated with pulmonary inflammation, fibrosis, and impaired lung function, though most evidence comes from occupational settings and in vitro experiments.

2025 Microplastics
Article Tier 2

Airborne micro- and nanoplastics: emerging causes of respiratory diseases

This review examines growing evidence that tiny airborne plastic particles can enter the lungs and trigger or worsen respiratory diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung inflammation. The smallest nanoplastics are especially concerning because they can penetrate deep into lung tissue and even enter the bloodstream, yet research on airborne plastic health effects significantly lags behind studies on waterborne exposure.

2024 Particle and Fibre Toxicology 53 citations
Review Tier 2

Airborne microplastics: A narrative review of potential effects on the human respiratory system

This review consolidates research on airborne microplastics and their potential effects on the human respiratory system. Studies show that inhaled microplastics can deposit in the lungs, trigger inflammation, cause oxidative stress, and lead to cell damage and death. While human exposure evidence is still limited, animal and cell studies suggest that long-term inhalation of airborne microplastics could pose significant risks to lung health.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 80 citations
Article Tier 2

Airborne microplastics: Consequences to human health?

Researchers reviewed existing evidence on airborne microplastics and their potential effects on human respiratory health. Studies of workers exposed to plastic fibers and particles have documented airway inflammation and breathing difficulties, suggesting that susceptible individuals may face health risks even from environmental concentrations. The paper calls for greater awareness and future research into the health consequences of inhaling microplastic particles.

2017 Environmental Pollution 1580 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics, potential threat to patients with lung diseases

This review examines the potential threat that airborne microplastics pose to people with existing lung conditions, noting that these particles have been found in human lung tissue and sputum. Researchers explored possible mechanisms by which inhaled microplastics could worsen lung diseases, including triggering inflammation and oxidative stress. The study highlights significant knowledge gaps and calls for more research into how microplastic inhalation affects respiratory health.

2022 Frontiers in Toxicology 119 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Air Pollution Microplastics with the Potential Risk of Lung Disease: A Systematic Review

This systematic review of 20 studies found that airborne microplastics, present in both indoor and outdoor air, can reach deep into the lungs when inhaled. Their accumulation in lung tissue may cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and damage to the lung's protective lining, raising concerns about respiratory diseases from chronic exposure to plastic-contaminated air.

2025 Journal of Environmental Health and Sustainable Development
Article Tier 2

Micro- and Nanoplastics and Pulmonary Health: The Current State of Research

This review evaluates the effects of micro- and nanoplastics on the respiratory system, noting that human autopsy studies confirm these particles are retained in lung tissue. Researchers examined how inhaled plastic particles may induce respiratory inflammation, oxidative stress, and other pulmonary effects. The study highlights that while airborne microplastics are a growing concern, our understanding of their short- and long-term impacts on lung health remains limited.

2026 Microplastics
Systematic Review Tier 1

A systematic review of the effects of airborne microplastic contamination on human lungs

This systematic review summarizes research showing that airborne microplastics have a negative effect on human lungs. Humans are estimated to inhale roughly 100,000 fine plastic particles every day, and the evidence suggests this exposure contributes to respiratory health problems, underscoring the need for policies to reduce plastic pollution in the air we breathe.

2024 African Journal of Reproductive Health 4 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

The Effect of Nanoplastics and Microplastics on Lung Morphology and Physiology: a Systematic Review

This systematic review examines how inhaled microplastics and nanoplastics affect lung structure and function. The research found that indoor microplastic concentrations are often higher than outdoor levels due to household materials shedding fibers, and that inhaled particles can accumulate in different parts of the lungs. These findings suggest that breathing in plastic particles at home and work could contribute to respiratory health problems over time.

2024 The Medical and Ecological Problems 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Respiratory Toxicity of Microplastics: Mechanisms, Clinical Outcomes, and Future Threats

This review summarized the respiratory toxicity of airborne microplastics, covering their sources, the routes by which they penetrate deep into lung tissue, and the range of clinical outcomes from chronic inflammation to potential malignancy. The authors warn that inhalation exposure represents an underappreciated and growing public health threat.

2025 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastics inhalation and their effects on human health: a systematic review

This systematic review examines how breathing in microplastics affects human health. It finds that airborne microplastics can reach the lungs and may trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and respiratory issues, with workers in textile and plastic industries facing the highest exposure levels.

2022 European Journal of Public Health 24 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

Breathing plastics: Influence of airborne microplastics on the respiratory microbiome and health of human lungs (Review)

Researchers reviewed evidence showing that inhaled airborne microplastics can physically interact with the microbial community living in human lungs, disrupting its balance and triggering inflammation linked to conditions like asthma and fibrosis. Because microplastic particles have been found in lung tissue and fluid samples, inhalation is now recognized as a significant exposure route with measurable consequences for respiratory health.

2026 World Academy of Sciences Journal
Article Tier 2

Microplastic and nanoplastic pollution and associated potential disease risks

This review summarizes evidence on potential health risks from human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics, covering metabolic, respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, liver, kidney, and skin disorders, as well as cancer and aging-related conditions. Researchers found that while animal and cell studies show numerous adverse effects, direct evidence linking microplastic exposure to human disease remains limited. The study emphasizes the need for better human exposure data and broader investigation of environmentally prevalent plastic types.

2025 The Lancet Planetary Health 1 citations
Article Tier 2

An emerging class of air pollutants: Potential effects of microplastics to respiratory human health?

This review explores the emerging concern that airborne microplastics can be inhaled by humans, potentially causing adverse effects on the respiratory system. Researchers compiled available data on the concentration, size, shape, and chemical composition of microplastic particles found in urban air. The findings suggest that airborne plastic debris represents a largely understudied class of air pollutant with potential implications for human health.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 406 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as environmental modifiers of lung disease

This review examines growing evidence that inhaled microplastics may contribute to lung diseases including asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Researchers found that different plastic types, sizes, and weathering states can trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular changes in lung tissue, suggesting microplastics may act as environmental modifiers that worsen respiratory conditions.

2025 EMBO Molecular Medicine 2 citations
Review Tier 2

Airborne microplastics and their impact on human health: A critical review

This review analyzes the growing body of research on microplastics floating in indoor and outdoor air and their potential effects on human health. Evidence indicates that inhaled microplastics can trigger inflammatory responses and cellular damage in the lungs, liver, and reproductive system, and may carry toxic additives deeper into the body. The authors call for more interdisciplinary research to understand the long-term health implications of breathing in these tiny plastic particles.

2025 Journal of Environmental Sciences 3 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Cytotoxicity Assessment of Nanoplastics and Plasticizers Exposure in In Vitro Lung Cell Culture Systems—A Systematic Review

This systematic review evaluates how nanoplastics and plasticizers affect lung cells in laboratory studies. The research found that these tiny plastic particles and their chemical additives can damage respiratory tissue at the cellular level, triggering inflammation and cell death. These findings suggest that breathing in nanoplastics could pose real risks to lung health, though more research is needed to confirm effects in living humans.

2022 Toxics 9 citations
Review Tier 2

A review of data for quantifying human exposures to micro and nanoplastics and potential health risks

This review synthesizes data on human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics through air, water, and food, and examines the potential health effects. Researchers found evidence of respiratory, liver, immune, and gastrointestinal impacts in humans and mammals exposed to elevated plastic particle levels, with toxicity varying by plastic type and size. The study highlights that while growing evidence links plastic particle exposure to health concerns, significant data gaps remain in quantifying actual human intake and long-term risks.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 203 citations
Article Tier 2

Breathing under siege: a narrative review on the potential biological mechanisms linking micro- and nanoplastic exposure to lung diseases

This narrative review examines how inhaled micro- and nanoplastics from indoor and outdoor air — including from synthetic textiles and face masks — can trigger lung inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis, and outlines proposed mechanisms linking plastic inhalation to respiratory disease.

2025 Journal of Breath Research
Article Tier 2

Plastic and Human Health: A Micro Issue?

This review evaluates the potential human health impacts of microplastic exposure through food and air, drawing on evidence from particle toxicology and related fields. Researchers note that if inhaled or ingested, microplastics could accumulate in tissues and cause localized inflammation, while chemical additives and adsorbed pollutants may leach out and cause additional toxic effects. The paper emphasizes that chronic, long-term exposure is likely the greater concern, though current data on actual human exposure levels remains limited.

2017 Environmental Science & Technology 3060 citations
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric microplastic and nanoplastic: The toxicological paradigm on the cellular system

This review examines how airborne microplastics and nanoplastics affect human cells after being inhaled into the lungs. Because these particles are tiny and lightweight, they can penetrate deep into lung tissue and potentially enter the bloodstream. Studies on human cell lines show that inhaled plastic particles can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage, raising concerns about long-term respiratory and systemic health effects.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 71 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and nano-plastics in the atmosphere: A review of occurrence, properties and human health risks

This review summarizes research on tiny plastic particles floating in the air we breathe, both indoors and outdoors. Studies show that inhaling these airborne microplastics and nanoplastics can trigger immune responses, oxidative stress, and cell death, potentially contributing to cardiovascular disease and reproductive problems, though standardized testing methods are still needed.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 108 citations