Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastics negatively impact embryogenesis and modulate the immune response of the marine medaka Oryzias melastigma

Researchers exposed marine medaka embryos (Oryzias melastigma) to polystyrene microplastics at varying concentrations and found dose-dependent developmental toxicity, including reduced hatching rates and altered immune gene expression, providing mechanistic insight into early-life MP effects.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 85 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in eggs impairs chick development by disrupting yolk sac function and intestinal homeostasis

Researchers detected microplastics in all commercial chicken eggs tested (average 17 μg/g), confirmed maternal transfer by finding polystyrene and polyethylene in all ovarian follicles, and showed that injecting polystyrene nanoplastics into yolk sacs disrupted yolk sac function and intestinal development in chicks.

2025 Food Chemistry
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics cause developmental abnormalities, oxidative damage and immune toxicity in early zebrafish development

Zebrafish embryos exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics showed dose-dependent developmental problems including delayed hatching, reduced survival, smaller body size, and the nanoplastics accumulated in critical organs like the eyes, heart, liver, and brain. The particles triggered oxidative stress that damaged cells and activated inflammatory immune responses, demonstrating how nanoplastic contamination in water can cause widespread harm to developing organisms.

2025 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics disturb maternal-fetal immune balance and cause reproductive toxicity in pregnant mice

Researchers exposed pregnant mice to polystyrene microplastics and found that the particles disrupted the delicate immune balance between mother and fetus. Exposure led to increased embryo loss and altered immune cell populations at the maternal-fetal interface. The study suggests that microplastic exposure during early pregnancy may pose reproductive risks by interfering with the immune tolerance mechanisms needed for successful pregnancy.

2021 Reproductive Toxicology 199 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential toxicity of polystyrene microplastic particles

Researchers investigated the cellular-level toxicity of polystyrene microplastic particles and found that they stimulated immune responses in a size- and concentration-dependent manner. The particles triggered the production of cytokines and chemokines, which are signaling molecules involved in inflammation. The study challenges the common assumption that microplastics pose minimal risk to human health, suggesting they may have immunological effects upon direct contact with cells.

2020 Scientific Reports 630 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics alter development, behavior, and innate immunity responses following bacterial infection during zebrafish embryo-larval development

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics altered zebrafish larval development, behavior, and innate immune responses in a timing-dependent manner, with early embryonic exposure through the egg chorion amplifying susceptibility to subsequent bacterial infection.

2022 Chemosphere 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Genotoxic and immunomodulatory effects in human white blood cells after ex vivo exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics

Human white blood cells were exposed ex vivo to polystyrene nanoplastics and showed DNA strand breaks, chromosomal damage, and changes in immune cell activation markers, suggesting that nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations could cause genotoxic and immunomodulatory effects in people.

2020 Environmental Science Nano 68 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics effects on zebrafish embryological development: Comparison of two different sizes

Zebrafish embryos exposed to polystyrene microplastics of two different sizes (1 and 3 micrometers) showed increased heart rates, physical deformities, and cell death at higher concentrations. The microplastics accumulated inside the larvae and triggered oxidative stress, which is an imbalance that damages cells. These findings add to growing evidence that microplastics can interfere with early development in ways that may be relevant to understanding risks during human pregnancy and infancy.

2024 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics mediate inflammatory responses in the chicken thymus by Nrf2/NF-κB pathway and trigger autophagy and apoptosis

Researchers exposed chickens to polystyrene microplastics and found significant damage to the thymus, a key immune organ. The microplastics triggered oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death through specific molecular pathways. The study suggests that microplastic exposure could compromise immune function in animals by damaging organs responsible for immune cell development.

2023 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induce biochemical and metabolism changes in human placental explants

Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene microplastics on human placental cells, finding that exposure altered biochemical pathways and metabolic activity. The results suggest that microplastics reaching the placenta can disrupt cellular functions important for fetal development.

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

Polystyrene microplastics induce an immunometabolic active state in macrophages

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics taken up by macrophages — immune cells lining the gut and lungs — triggered a metabolic shift toward an inflammatory state. This finding suggests microplastics reaching human tissues may alter immune function in ways that could contribute to inflammation-related diseases.

2021 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Uptake Routes and Biodistribution of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Zebrafish Larvae and Toxic Effects on Development

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos and larvae to amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics to study uptake routes and biodistribution. The study found that nanoplastics accumulated in target organs and caused toxic developmental effects, providing evidence that these tiny plastic fragments can penetrate biological barriers and interfere with normal development in aquatic organisms.

2023 Fishes 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induce biochemical and metabolism changes in human placental explants

This study examined how polystyrene microplastics affect biochemical pathways and metabolism in human placental cells, with microplastics having been detected in human placental tissue. Polystyrene microplastics induced metabolic and biochemical changes in placental cells, raising concern for placental function and fetal health during pregnancy.

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

Embryotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics in zebrafish Danio rerio

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene microplastics during early development and observed serious physical deformities, particularly in the spine, tail, and eyes, despite no increase in mortality. The exposed larvae also showed elevated expression of genes involved in oxidative stress defense and cellular detoxification. The findings suggest that microplastics can disrupt critical developmental stages in freshwater fish even when they do not directly cause death.

2021 Environmental Research 136 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics dysregulate lipid metabolism in murine macrophages in vitro

Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on immune cell metabolism and found that macrophages exposed to nanoplastics transformed into lipid-laden foam cells. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure dysregulates lipid metabolism in immune cells, with implications for understanding how these particles may interact with the immune system at the cellular level.

2021 Toxicology 91 citations
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

Stress Response of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts Exposed to Polystyrene Nanoplastics

Mouse embryonic fibroblasts exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics internalized particles via endocytosis without losing viability, but showed activation of antioxidant and autophagic stress pathways, suggesting subcellular dysfunction even in the absence of cell death.

2021 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicological profiling of polystyrene microplastics in raw 264.7 macrophages: Linking microplastic exposure to immune cell impairment

Researchers exposed immune cells called macrophages to polystyrene microplastics and found that the cells rapidly absorbed the particles within two hours. Higher concentrations caused mitochondrial damage, disrupted cellular recycling processes, and triggered inflammation-related signaling. The study provides evidence that microplastics can impair the function of key immune cells responsible for defending the body against foreign threats.

2025 Toxicology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Immunological and Genotoxic Effects of Polystyrene Microparticles on the Model Insect Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Researchers fed mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae polystyrene microplastics at four dose levels and assessed immune function and DNA damage. Dietary exposure caused dose-dependent increases in larval mortality, immune cell changes, and genotoxic damage, indicating that even insect species used in waste degradation studies are harmed by microplastic ingestion.

2025 Transactions of the American Entomological Society
Article Tier 2

Effect of Early-Life Exposure of Polystyrene Microplastics on Behavior and DNA Methylation in Later Life Stage of Zebrafish

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene microplastics during early development and then assessed neurobehavioral effects later in life. The study found that early-life microplastic exposure caused lasting changes in behavior and DNA methylation patterns, suggesting that developmental exposure to microplastics may have long-term epigenetic consequences on neurodevelopment.

2022 Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 47 citations
Article Tier 2

The effects of microplastics exposure on quail's hypothalamus: Neurotransmission disturbance, cytokine imbalance and ROS/TGF-β/Akt/FoxO3a signaling disruption

Japanese quail exposed to polystyrene microplastics for five weeks showed significant brain damage in the hypothalamus, including structural changes to neurons, disrupted chemical signaling, and inflammation. The microplastics caused oxidative stress and interfered with important cell-survival pathways in the brain. While studied in birds, these neurotoxic effects are relevant because similar brain pathways exist in humans, and they suggest microplastic exposure could affect neurological function.

2024 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of nanoplastics on zebrafish embryo-larval stages: A case study with polystyrene (PS) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) particles

Researchers assessed the effects of polystyrene and polymethylmethacrylate nanoparticles on zebrafish embryos and larvae over 96 hours. The study found that these nanoplastics affected biochemical endpoints related to neurotransmission, antioxidant status, oxidative damage, and energy metabolism, with effects varying by plastic type. Evidence suggests that smaller plastic particles may have increased bioavailability and reactivity compared to larger fragments.

2022 Environmental Research 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Morphological Alterations in the Early Developmental Stages of Zebrafish (Danio rerio; Hamilton 1822) Induced by Exposure to Polystyrene Microparticles

Researchers exposed zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos and larvae to three environmentally relevant concentrations of 100-micrometer polystyrene microplastics, finding no mortality but dose-dependent morphological alterations including pigmentation deficiency and head region abnormalities, with the integrated biomarker response index sensitive to all three concentrations tested.

2022 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of polystyrene nanoplastics on in vitro maturation of pig cumulus-encosed oocytes

Researchers exposed pig egg cells to polystyrene nanoplastics during laboratory maturation and found that while the eggs still completed their basic development stages, the nanoplastics significantly increased harmful reactive oxygen species levels. This oxidative stress reduced the quality of resulting embryos, as indicated by fewer cells per embryo, suggesting nanoplastic exposure could be a concern for reproductive health.

2025 Research in Veterinary Science 2 citations