We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
20 resultsShowing papers similar to Combined exposure to polyvinyl chloride and polystyrene microplastics induces liver injury and perturbs gut microbial and serum metabolic homeostasis in mice
ClearCombined toxicity of polystyrene microplastics and perfluorobutane sulfonate on mouse liver: Impact on lipid metabolism and gut-liver axis disruption
This study examined what happens when mice are exposed to both polystyrene microplastics and PFBS (a type of "forever chemical") at the same time. The combination caused significantly worse liver damage than either pollutant alone, disrupting fat metabolism and triggering gut bacteria imbalances that further harmed the liver through the gut-liver connection. These findings are concerning because microplastics can absorb PFAS chemicals in the environment, meaning people may often be exposed to both together.
Gut–Liver Axis Mediates the Combined Hepatointestinal Toxicity of Triclosan and Polystyrene Microplastics in Mice: Implications for Human Co-Exposure Risks
Mice co-exposed to the antimicrobial triclosan and polystyrene microplastics showed markedly worse intestinal and liver damage than those exposed to either contaminant alone, with gut microbiome disruption identified as a key mediating mechanism.
Low-dose polystyrene microplastics exposure increases susceptibility to obesity-induced MASLD via disrupting intestinal barrier integrity and gut microbiota homeostasis
A mouse study found that even low doses of polystyrene microplastics made fatty liver disease significantly worse when combined with a high-fat diet, creating a "double hit" effect. The microplastics damaged the gut lining, disrupted beneficial gut bacteria, and triggered inflammation that spread to the liver, and these harmful effects were difficult to reverse even after two weeks of stopping exposure.
Oral exposure to polyethylene microplastics of adult male mice fed a normal or western-style diet: impact on gut and gut-liver axis homeostasis
Researchers exposed adult male mice to polyethylene microplastics on normal or Western diet for 90 days, examining synergistic effects between plastic and dietary stress on gut and liver health. Microplastic exposure disrupted gut barrier integrity, altered the microbiome, and affected liver homeostasis, with some effects differing between normal and Western diet groups.
Combined Enterohepatic Toxicity of Polystyrene Microplastics and Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate in Mice: Gut Microbiota-Dependent Synergistic Effects
Researchers investigated the combined toxicity of polystyrene microplastics and the plasticizer DEHP in mice, focusing on gut-liver axis effects. They found that co-exposure worsened harmful outcomes compared to either pollutant alone, with gut microbiota playing a key mediating role in the synergistic toxicity. The study suggests that microplastics and their associated chemical additives may interact to amplify health risks through disruption of the gut-liver connection.
Co-exposure to polystyrene microplastics and perfluorooctanoic acid can exacerbate lipid metabolism disorders and liver damage in adult zebrafish
Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics and the persistent pollutant PFOA separately and together for 28 days, finding that combined exposure caused greater intestinal barrier breakdown, liver damage, lipid metabolism disruption, and gut microbiome dysbiosis than either contaminant alone — raising concerns about nonalcoholic fatty liver disease risk from co-occurring plastic and chemical pollution.
Oral exposure to high concentrations of polystyrene microplastics alters the intestinal environment and metabolic outcomes in mice
In a mouse study, oral exposure to high concentrations of polystyrene microplastics caused fatty liver disease and abnormal blood lipid levels even without prior gut leakiness. The microplastics triggered intestinal inflammation through immune cells, disrupted gut bacteria, and altered how the body processes nutrients. These results suggest that swallowing microplastics could contribute to metabolic problems and liver disease in humans.
Comparative Analysisof Metabolic Dysfunctions Associatedwith Pristine and Aged Polyethylene Microplastic Exposure via theLiver-Gut Axis in Mice
Researchers fed mice low doses of pristine and aged polyethylene microplastics for several weeks and analyzed changes in blood metabolites, liver proteins, and gut bacteria. Both forms caused lipid metabolism disruptions and reduced beneficial gut bacteria, with aged microplastics showing greater toxicity linked to changes in fatty acid processing enzymes.
Environmentally Relevant Concentrations of Microplastic Exposure Cause Cholestasis and Bile Acid Metabolism Dysregulation through a Gut-Liver Loop in Mice
Mice exposed to environmentally realistic levels of polystyrene microplastics for 30 days developed damaged intestinal barriers, liver injury, and disrupted bile acid metabolism. The study revealed a gut-liver feedback loop where microplastics alter gut bacteria, which changes bile acid production, which in turn causes further liver damage, suggesting a mechanism by which everyday microplastic exposure could harm digestive health.
Synergistic Toxicity of Combined Exposure to Acrylamide and Polystyrene Nanoplastics on the Gut–Liver Axis in Mice
Researchers exposed mice to a combination of acrylamide, a common food processing byproduct, and polystyrene nanoplastics through drinking water and found that the combined exposure caused more severe gut and liver damage than either substance alone. The co-exposure disrupted gut barrier integrity, altered gut bacteria composition, and caused widespread metabolic changes. The study suggests that the interaction between nanoplastics and other food contaminants may amplify health risks beyond what each poses individually.
Comparative Analysis of Metabolic Dysfunctions Associated with Pristine and Aged Polyethylene Microplastic Exposure via the Liver-Gut Axis in Mice
Mice fed both new and weathered polyethylene microplastics developed disrupted fat metabolism, liver oxidative stress, and shifts in gut bacteria, with weathered (aged) particles causing more severe effects. This study suggests that the microplastics people encounter in the real world, which have been degraded by sunlight and time, may be more harmful than the pristine particles typically used in lab studies.
Chronic exposure to polyvinyl chloride microplastics induces liver injury and gut microbiota dysbiosis based on the integration of liver transcriptome profiles and full-length 16S rRNA sequencing data
Researchers exposed mice to polyvinyl chloride microplastics for 60 days and found significant liver damage accompanied by changes in gut bacteria composition. Gene expression analysis revealed that the liver injury involved inflammatory and metabolic pathways, while the gut microbiome shifted toward disease-associated bacterial profiles. The study suggests a connection between chronic microplastic exposure, gut health disruption, and liver toxicity.
Polystyrene nanoplastics exacerbate aflatoxin B1-induced hepatic injuries by modulating the gut−liver axis
Mice exposed to both polystyrene nanoplastics and aflatoxin B1, a common food contaminant from mold, suffered worse liver damage than from either pollutant alone. The nanoplastics disrupted gut bacteria and weakened the intestinal barrier, allowing more toxins to reach the liver through the gut-liver axis. This study is concerning because it shows that microplastics can amplify the harmful effects of other food contaminants people are already exposed to.
Proinflammatory properties and lipid disturbance of polystyrene microplastics in the livers of mice with acute colitis
Researchers studied the effects of polystyrene microplastics on the livers of mice fed a high-fat diet and found that the particles triggered significant inflammatory responses and disrupted lipid metabolism. The microplastics worsened fat accumulation in the liver and activated inflammatory signaling pathways. The findings suggest that microplastic exposure combined with a high-fat diet may amplify liver damage and metabolic disturbances.
Unraveling the impact of micro- and nano-sized polymethyl methacrylate on gut microbiota and liver lipid metabolism: Insights from oral exposure studies
Mice that drank water containing tiny acrylic-type plastic particles (PMMA) for eight weeks developed liver damage, gut microbiome changes, and disrupted fat metabolism. The plastic particles accumulated in the liver and colon, triggering oxidative stress and activating pathways that increased cholesterol production. This study suggests that chronic exposure to even common plastic types through drinking water could harm liver health by disrupting the gut-liver connection.
Polystyrene microplastics exposure increases the disruption of intestinal barrier integrity and gut microbiota homeostasis during obesity and aging
Researchers found that polystyrene microplastic exposure worsened intestinal barrier dysfunction in mice on high-fat diets, with the combination of obesity and microplastic exposure producing greater gut permeability and inflammation than either factor alone, suggesting compounding risks in metabolically vulnerable individuals.
Polystyrene microplastics induce gut microbiota dysbiosis and hepatic lipid metabolism disorder in mice
Researchers fed mice two sizes of polystyrene microplastics for five weeks and observed significant disruption of gut bacteria and changes in liver fat metabolism. The microplastics decreased mucus production in the gut and shifted the balance of key bacterial populations at multiple taxonomic levels. The study suggests that microplastic ingestion can trigger gut microbiota imbalance in mammals, which may in turn affect metabolic health.
Polystyrene microplastics exacerbated liver injury from cyclophosphamide in mice: Insight into gut microbiota
Researchers developed a mouse model to investigate whether chronic pre-exposure to polystyrene microplastics worsens liver injury caused by the drug cyclophosphamide. The study found that mice with 90 days of microplastic exposure showed significantly more severe liver damage when subsequently treated with cyclophosphamide, with changes linked to gut microbiota disruption. The findings suggest that chronic microplastic exposure may reduce the liver's resilience to additional chemical stressors.
Aged polystyrene microplastics exacerbate cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity in zebrafish through gut-liver axis metabolic dysregulation
Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics and cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, and found that weathered (aged) microplastics absorbed more cadmium and caused worse liver damage — disrupting the gut barrier, altering gut bacteria, and triggering fat buildup in the liver — compared to either pollutant alone.
Transcriptome Sequencing and Metabolite Analysis Revealed the Single and Combined Effects of Microplastics and Di-(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate on Mouse Liver
Mice exposed to microplastics, the plasticizer DEHP, or both together showed liver damage including oxidative stress, cell death, and disrupted metabolism. The combined exposure was worse than either pollutant alone, activating cancer-related genes and impairing the liver's ability to process fats and amino acids. Since DEHP is commonly found alongside microplastics in the environment, these findings suggest that real-world exposure to contaminated plastics could pose a greater liver health risk than previously estimated.