Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Micro problems with Macro Consequences: Accumulation of Persistent Organic Pollutants and Microplastics in Human Breast Milk and in Human Milk Substitutes

This review examines the co-occurrence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and microplastics in human breast milk and infant formula, highlighting that infants — one of the most vulnerable populations — may be exposed to both chemical and particle-based contaminants through feeding. The authors stress that the health effects of microplastic ingestion in early life remain largely unknown, making this a critical gap in understanding long-term developmental risks.

2023 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Isolating microplastics from human milk: a chemical digestion approach for effective polymer extraction and ATR-FTIR analysis

Researchers developed and evaluated a chemical digestion method for isolating microplastics from human breast milk, addressing the challenges posed by the high fat and protein content of this matrix. The method enabled ATR-FTIR polymer identification of MPs extracted from milk samples, providing a validated protocol for studying infant dietary MP exposure.

2025 The International Islamic University Malaysia Repository (The International Islamic University Malaysia)
Article Tier 2

The cardiovascular toxicity of polystyrene microplastics in rats: based on untargeted metabolomics analysis

A rat study using metabolomics analysis found that long-term exposure to high concentrations of polystyrene microplastics led to abnormal fat metabolism and cardiovascular damage. The harm appeared to be driven by oxidative stress and inflammation, suggesting that chronic microplastic exposure could contribute to heart and blood vessel disease.

2024 Frontiers in Pharmacology 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of food contact material-related nanoplastics on 3T3-L1 cell uptake and lipid metabolism

Researchers examined the uptake of food contact material-derived nanoplastics into 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells and assessed subsequent effects on lipid metabolism. The study investigated how nanoplastics that migrate from packaging into food may disrupt fat storage and metabolic signaling at the cellular level.

2024 Taipei Medical University Repository
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and Metabolism: Physiological Responses in Mice Following Ingestion

Researchers found that mice orally exposed to microplastic microspheres showed changes in lipid metabolism and other metabolic pathways, with particles detected in tissues throughout the body. The effects were more pronounced when mice were exposed to mixed microplastic types compared to polystyrene alone, suggesting that real-world mixtures of microplastics may have broader physiological impacts.

2024 Environmental Health Perspectives 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Association between exposure to microplastics and lipid disorders: A case-control study

Researchers conducted a case-control study examining the association between internal microplastic exposure and lipid metabolism disorders. The study found that microplastic exposure was significantly associated with lipid disorders, providing novel evidence that microplastics may adversely affect lipid metabolism in humans.

2026 Journal of Advanced Research
Article Tier 2

Maternal nanoplastic ingestion induces an increase in offspring body weight through altered lipid species and microbiota

Researchers found that when mother mice ingested nanoplastics derived from polystyrene and polypropylene during pregnancy and nursing, their offspring showed increased body weight gain. The weight changes were associated with alterations in fat metabolism and shifts in gut microbiome composition in the pups. The study suggests that maternal exposure to nanoplastic pollution may act as an environmental factor contributing to weight gain in offspring.

2024 Environment International 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Maternal Polystyrene Microplastic Exposure during Gestation and Lactation Altered Metabolic Homeostasis in the Dams and Their F1 and F2 Offspring

Researchers exposed pregnant mice to polystyrene microplastics during pregnancy and nursing and found significant metabolic disruptions in both the mothers and their offspring across two generations. The microplastics altered lipid metabolism, gut microbiota composition, and key metabolic signaling pathways. The study suggests that microplastic exposure during critical developmental windows may have lasting health consequences that pass to future generations.

2019 Environmental Science & Technology 359 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of Microplastics in Human Breast Milk and Its Association with Changes in Human Milk Bacterial Microbiota

Researchers detected microplastics in nearly 39% of breast milk samples from 59 mothers, with polypropylene and polyethylene being the most common types found. The presence of microplastics was linked to changes in the bacterial makeup of breast milk, raising concerns about early-life microplastic exposure in infants during breastfeeding.

2024 Journal of Clinical Medicine 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution: A potent threat for metabolic disruption in mammals

This review examines the evidence linking microplastic exposure to metabolic disruption, covering mechanisms by which microplastics and their associated chemical additives may interfere with hormonal regulation, glucose metabolism, and lipid homeostasis. The authors identify microplastics as a potent emerging threat to metabolic health.

2024 INDIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY AND ALLIED SCIENCES
Article Tier 2

Optimizing hexane, KOH, and H2O2 methods for lipid removal and organic matter digestion in microplastic analysis of human milk

Researchers developed and optimized a method for isolating microplastics from human breast milk, a particularly challenging sample due to its high fat and protein content. Using a combination of hexane for lipid removal and potassium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide for organic matter digestion, they were able to successfully extract and identify microplastic particles. The study provides a validated analytical approach that could help future research assess infant exposure to microplastics through breastfeeding.

2026 Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences
Article Tier 2

Microplastic-induced gut microbiota and serum metabolic disruption in Sprague-Dawley rats

Researchers exposed rats to a mixture of common microplastic types at concentrations reflecting real-world human exposure and found significant disruptions to gut bacteria and blood metabolites. The microplastic mixture altered the balance of beneficial and harmful gut microbes and changed metabolic pathways related to amino acids and lipids. The study suggests that everyday microplastic exposure from food and water may affect mammalian gut health and metabolism.

2023 Environmental Pollution 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Human Milk, Microplastics and Children's Health: An Equation to Be Solved

This review examined microplastic contamination in human breast milk, summarizing evidence of widespread MP detection and discussing the potential health consequences for infants whose primary food source in the first two years of life may contain plastic particles.

2025 International Journal of Medical Science and Health Research
Article Tier 2

Impact of polystyrene microplastic exposure on lipid profile and oxidative stress status of male and female Wistar rats

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastic exposure in Wistar rats caused significant alterations in lipid profiles and increased oxidative stress markers, with effects varying between male and female rats and between pristine polystyrene and Styrofoam forms.

2022 Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Nano- and Microplastics Migration from Plastic Food Packaging into Dairy Products: Impact on Nutrient Digestion, Absorption, and Metabolism

This review examines how nano and microplastics migrate from plastic food packaging into dairy products like milk and infant formula. The plastic particles can interfere with how the body digests and absorbs proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, and may disrupt metabolism of lipids, glucose, and iron. These findings are especially concerning for infants and children who consume formula and milk from plastic containers, as their developing bodies may be more sensitive to these effects.

2023 Foods 57 citations
Article Tier 2

A metabolomics perspective on the effect of environmental micro and nanoplastics on living organisms: A review

This review examines how scientists use metabolomics, the study of small molecules produced by cellular processes, to understand the toxic effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on living organisms. The research shows that these plastic particles disrupt metabolism in consistent ways across species, affecting energy production, fat processing, and amino acid pathways. These shared metabolic disruptions across different organisms suggest that microplastics could cause similar metabolic problems in humans.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro problems with macro consequences: accumulation of persistent organic pollutants and microplastics in human breast milk and in human milk substitutes

This review examines the presence of persistent organic pollutants and microplastics in both human breast milk and infant formula, raising questions about early-life exposure. Researchers found that these contaminants can transfer to infants during the critical first 1,000 days of development, a period important for long-term health. The study highlights significant gaps in our understanding of how combined exposure to microplastics and organic pollutants during infancy may affect health outcomes.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Are microplastics in food a risk factor for obesity: Current evidence, mechanistic pathways and emerging health risks associated with human exposure

This review examines the emerging evidence linking microplastic and nanoplastic exposure to metabolic dysfunction and potential obesity risk. Researchers found that these particles have been detected in multiple human tissues and may contribute to inflammation, hormonal disruption, gut microbiome changes, and altered fat cell development. While animal and laboratory studies support a plausible connection, the study notes that direct evidence in humans is still limited and further research is needed.

2026
Commentary Tier 3

Editorial: Role of hormones and bioactive components in breast milk on development of metabolic, neural and behavioral systems in offspring

This editorial introduces research on how hormones and bioactive compounds in breast milk shape the metabolic, neural, and behavioral development of offspring. Breast milk has been found to contain microplastics, raising questions about whether plastic particles may also affect the developmental role of this critical early food source.

2023 Frontiers in Endocrinology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Human Milk—The Biofluid That Nourishes Infants from the First Day of Life

This review highlights that human breast milk, while being the ideal nutrition for infants, is now subject to contamination by environmental pollutants including microplastics. The presence of microplastics in breast milk means that infants may be exposed to plastic particles from the very first days of life. The authors call for new monitoring methods to better understand the extent of contamination and its potential effects on infant development.

2024 Foods 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Long-Term Exposure to Environmentally Relevant Doses of Large Polystyrene Microplastics Disturbs Lipid Homeostasis via Bowel Function Interference

Researchers exposed mice to environmentally relevant doses of large polystyrene microplastics in their diet for 21 weeks and found significant disruptions to fat metabolism and gut bacterial communities. The microplastics interfered with bowel function, which in turn altered how the body processes and stores lipids. The study provides evidence that even low-level, long-term microplastic exposure through food may affect metabolic health in mammals.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 109 citations
Article Tier 2

Biological exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics and plastic additives: impairment of glycolipid metabolism and adverse effects on metabolic diseases

This review examines how exposure to micro- and nanoplastics disrupts the body's ability to process sugars and fats, potentially contributing to diabetes, obesity, and atherosclerosis. The plastics cause inflammation and oxidative stress, damage gut bacteria, trigger insulin resistance, and increase fat buildup in the liver. For people who already have metabolic conditions, plastic exposure may make their disease worse.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Untargeted lipidomics uncover hepatic lipid signatures induced by long-term exposure to polystyrene microplastics in vivo

Researchers exposed rats to polystyrene microplastics over 6 and 12 months and used advanced lipid profiling to assess liver damage. They found that long-term exposure caused liver inflammation, fatty liver changes, and significant alterations in eight key lipid metabolites involved in fat processing. The study provides evidence that chronic microplastic exposure can disrupt liver lipid metabolism, raising concerns about long-term health effects.

2024 Toxicology Letters 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Contamination in Breast Milk and Infant Milk Products in Indonesia

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in breast milk and infant formula products in Indonesia and found that powdered formula had the highest average particle count, followed by liquid formula, stored breast milk, and fresh breast milk. Notably, 37% of fresh breast milk samples had no detectable microplastics. The findings raise concerns about infant exposure to microplastics through both breast milk and formula, with packaging and processing appearing to increase contamination levels.

2025 GEMA Lingkungan Kesehatan 1 citations