Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Evaluation of potential toxicity of polyethylene microplastics on human derived cell lines

Researchers tested the toxic effects of two sizes of polyethylene microplastics on human cell lines representing different tissue types. They found that microplastic exposure triggered inflammatory responses and caused cellular damage, with effects varying depending on particle size and cell type. The findings suggest that microplastics commonly encountered in everyday life could pose health risks when they interact with human tissues.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 168 citations
Article Tier 2

Epidermal and dermal cell-composed organospheres to assess microplastic-induced skin toxicity

Researchers developed lab-grown skin tissue models using mouse epidermal and dermal cells to test how microplastics affect skin health. They found that smaller microplastics were taken up more readily by cells and could penetrate through the skin's outer layer into deeper tissue. The study suggests that microplastics in personal care products may pose size-dependent risks to skin health, with the smallest particles being the most concerning.

2025 Biomaterials 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity in vitro reveals potential impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics on human health: A review

This review summarizes laboratory cell-culture studies examining the potential health impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics on human cells. Researchers found evidence that these particles can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and disruption to normal cell functions across multiple cell types. The study suggests that while more research is needed, the in vitro evidence indicates microplastics and nanoplastics have the potential to affect human health through several biological pathways.

2021 Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 119 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and Skin Aging: Disruption of Barrier Function and Induction of Fibroblast Senescence

Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics affect skin health using lab-grown skin cells and gene expression analysis. They found that microplastic exposure disrupted the skin's protective barrier by inhibiting normal skin cell development and accelerated aging in the deeper skin layer by triggering cellular senescence. The study suggests that microplastics may contribute to premature skin aging and weakened skin barrier function, adding to the growing understanding of how these particles affect human health.

2024 Experimental Dermatology 7 citations
Article Tier 2

The physiological effect of polystyrene nanoplastic particles on fish and human fibroblasts

Researchers tested the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on skin cells from both zebrafish and humans, finding that the particles were taken up by all cell types and slowed down cell growth and wound healing in a size- and concentration-dependent manner. Human skin cells were more sensitive than fish cells, with larger particles at higher concentrations causing the greatest inhibition of cell movement. These results suggest that nanoplastics contacting human skin could potentially interfere with normal skin repair processes.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic exposure induces epithelial barrier alterations and increases collagen deposition in a 3D human endometrial model in vitro

Researchers exposed a 3D human endometrial tissue model to microplastics in the laboratory and observed alterations to the epithelial barrier along with increased collagen deposition. The findings suggest that microplastics may have the ability to exert harmful effects on human endometrial tissue. The study raises concerns about a possible negative impact on uterine functionality and receptivity.

2025 Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Cytotoxic Effects of Microplastics on Human Cells

This study reviewed and tested the cytotoxic effects of microplastics on human cells, finding that microplastic particles can cause cell damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress at relevant concentrations. The results support growing concern that microplastics ingested or inhaled by humans may pose direct health risks at the cellular level.

2021 DigiNole (Florida State University)
Article Tier 2

Prospects on the nano-plastic particles internalization and induction of cellular response in human keratinocytes

Researchers isolated nano-sized plastic particles from commercial face scrubs and tested their effects on human skin cells (keratinocytes), finding that plastic nanoparticles adhered to cells and were taken up into them. This raises concerns about microplastic absorption through the skin from cosmetic products.

2021 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Impact of polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics (PET) on fibroblasts: a study on NIH-3T3 cells

Researchers exposed mouse fibroblast cells (important for wound healing and tissue repair) to PET nanoplastics made through a process that mimics real-world plastic breakdown. The nanoplastics entered the cells and significantly impaired their ability to migrate and close wounds, even at concentrations that caused only mild reductions in cell survival. This suggests that nanoplastic exposure could interfere with the body's ability to heal wounds and repair damaged tissue.

2025 Frontiers in Physiology 6 citations
Article Tier 2

A rapid review and meta-regression analyses of the toxicological impacts of microplastic exposure in human cells

Researchers conducted a systematic review and statistical analysis of studies examining the effects of microplastic exposure on human cells in the laboratory. They found evidence that microplastics can cause cell damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress, with smaller particles and higher doses generally producing stronger effects. The study provides the first pooled estimate of dose-response thresholds for microplastic toxicity in human cells, helping to frame the potential health risks of daily exposure.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 198 citations
Article Tier 2

An assessment of the toxicity of polypropylene microplastics in human derived cells

Researchers assessed the toxicity of polypropylene microplastics on human-derived cell lines and found that the particles triggered inflammatory responses and oxidative stress at concentrations relevant to environmental exposure. The microplastics also affected cell viability and caused measurable changes in immune-related gene expression. The study raises concerns about potential health effects from chronic human exposure to one of the most commonly produced plastic types.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 621 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics, Skin Disease, and Dermatology

This review examined the risks that microplastics and nanoplastics pose to skin health, noting that particles can penetrate compromised skin barriers and cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and cellular senescence in fibroblasts. The authors recommend that dermatologists incorporate microplastic exposure into clinical assessments of skin conditions.

2025 Dermatologic Clinics
Article Tier 2

Cellular response of keratinocytes to the entry and accumulation of nanoplastic particles

Researchers studied how nanoplastic particles interact with human skin cells when the protective outer skin layer is compromised. They found that nanoplastics readily penetrate and accumulate inside skin cells, triggering stress responses and activating inflammatory pathways -- suggesting that people with damaged or sensitive skin may be especially vulnerable to nanoplastic absorption.

2024 Particle and Fibre Toxicology 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating the Impact of Microplastics on Fish Muscle Cell Proliferation and Differentiation: Enhancing Food Safety in Cultivated Meat Production

Researchers exposed Atlantic mackerel muscle cells to polyethylene microspheres at concentrations representative of environmental contamination and found that microplastics significantly impaired cell attachment and proliferation, particularly at 10 µg/mL. The findings matter for the growing cultivated meat industry, which sources cells from marine species already exposed to microplastics, raising food safety questions.

2023 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing the Impact of Polyethylene Nano/Microplastic Exposure on Human Vaginal Keratinocytes

Researchers exposed human vaginal skin cells to polyethylene micro and nanoplastics similar to what might be released from disposable period products. At high concentrations, the plastic particles were taken up by cells and caused cell death, inflammation, and oxidative stress. This is the first study to address this specific exposure route, highlighting a potential women's health concern from microplastics in menstrual products.

2023 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative toxicity of microplastics obtained from human consumer products on human cell-based models

Researchers tested microplastics ground from everyday consumer plastic products, like forks and cups, on eight different human cell types and found that certain cells were notably vulnerable. Endothelial cells and microglial cells showed decreased viability and DNA damage at concentrations as low as 10 micrograms per milliliter. The study suggests that microplastics from real consumer products may pose different risks than the pristine laboratory polymers typically used in toxicity research.

2024 Food and Chemical Toxicology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

In vitro chemical and physical toxicities of polystyrene microfragments in human-derived cells

Researchers conducted in vitro toxicology testing on randomly-shaped polystyrene microfragments, which better represent real-world microplastics than the spherical microbeads commonly used in studies. The study found that irregular surface roughness contributed to physical cytotoxicity, and that chemical toxicity from leached additives also played a role, suggesting previous studies using uniform spheres may underestimate actual microplastic hazards.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 185 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Microplastics on Cell Viability, Phagocytic Activity and Oxidative Stress in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

Researchers exposed human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to four concentrations of polyethylene glycol and natural microplastics and measured cell viability, phagocytic activity, and oxidative stress. Higher microplastic concentrations reduced cell viability and phagocytic function while increasing oxidative stress markers, indicating that microplastics impair immune cell performance.

2025 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in dermatology: Potential effects on skin homeostasis

This study highlights the growing concern that microplastics and nanoplastics may affect skin health by disrupting the skin's natural balance. While research is still early, the findings suggest that these synthetic particles could interfere with skin homeostasis, pointing to a need for further investigation into how everyday plastic exposure might affect our largest organ.

2024 Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 68 citations
Article Tier 2

Mechanisms of Cell Toxicity Caused by Degraded Microplastics

This review examined the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which degraded microplastics cause toxicity, focusing on how physical and chemical changes during environmental weathering alter plastic particle biological activity. The paper discussed oxidative stress, membrane disruption, and inflammatory pathways as key toxicity mechanisms of degraded microplastic fragments.

2024 YAKUGAKU ZASSHI 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Human organoids to assess environmental contaminants toxicity and mode of action: towards New Approach Methodologies

This review explores how human organoids, miniature lab-grown organ models, can be used to test the toxicity of environmental contaminants including microplastics. These 3D tissue models offer a more accurate picture of how pollutants affect human cells than traditional lab tests, though more work is needed to simulate the chronic, low-dose exposures people actually experience.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and nano-plastics induce inflammation and cell death in human cells.

Human cell cultures exposed to micro- and nano-plastics (MNPLs) showed elevated inflammation markers and cell death, with effects varying by particle type and concentration. The study developed a novel extraction and staining technique to identify individual plastic types in complex mixtures, advancing methods for assessing human cellular toxicity.

2025 Frontiers in immunology
Article Tier 2

Evaluating Cellular Effects of PET Microplastics in 2D/3D Models: Methodological Considerations of Reagent Interference

Researchers assessed the cellular effects of PET microplastics using both 2D and 3D cell culture models and found dose- and cell-type-dependent reductions in viability along with rapid generation of reactive oxygen species. The study highlights significant methodological challenges, as microplastics can interfere with common lab assays through light scattering, dye adsorption, and surface interactions, potentially producing misleading results without appropriate controls.

2026
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Trans-epithelial Penetration and Microplastic-induced Tissue Damage in a 3d Model of Human Respiratory Mucosa

Researchers used a 3D human respiratory mucosa model to study microplastic penetration, finding that particles crossed the epithelial barrier in a size-dependent manner and caused tissue damage and inflammatory marker upregulation, providing a more realistic model of inhalation risk than 2D cultures.

2025 Journal of Biological Research - Bollettino della Società Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale