Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Micro- and nano-plastics activation of oxidative and inflammatory adverse outcome pathways

This review maps the biological harm caused by micro- and nanoplastics to formal toxicity pathways, finding that oxidative stress is a common starting point for damage at every level from cells to whole organisms. Researchers found that in ecological settings, this oxidative damage cascades into growth inhibition and behavioral changes, while in human health contexts it may trigger inflammatory responses. The study highlights that more mammalian research is needed to fully define the health risks of plastic particle exposure.

2020 Redox Biology 566 citations
Article Tier 2

Cellular and Systemic Effects of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Mammals—What We Know So Far

This review summarized known cellular and systemic effects of micro- and nanoplastics in mammals, finding that while ingestion is common, knowledge of health impacts remains limited, with oxidative stress and inflammation as the most reported biological responses.

2023 Materials 13 citations
Review Tier 2

Advances on micro/nanoplastics and their effects on the living organisms: A review

This review examines the current state of research on how micro- and nanoplastics affect plants, animals, microorganisms, and humans. Researchers found that these tiny plastic particles can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, reproductive problems, and disruption of gut microbiomes across a wide range of species. The study highlights that while significant progress has been made in understanding these effects, major gaps remain in assessing long-term exposure risks at realistic environmental concentrations.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 23 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Effects of Nano and Microplastics on the Inflammatory Process: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies Systematic Review

This systematic review examined both lab-based and animal studies on how micro- and nanoplastics trigger inflammation in the body. The evidence supports a link between microplastic exposure and inflammatory responses, which are involved in many chronic diseases. While more high-quality studies are needed — especially on nanoplastics — the findings suggest that plastic particles may contribute to ongoing low-level inflammation in exposed organisms.

2022 Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Consequences of nano and microplastic exposure in rodent models: the known and unknown

This review summarizes what rodent studies have revealed about the health effects of micro and nanoplastic exposure, including inflammation, oxidative stress, metabolic disruption, and reproductive harm. Researchers found that toxic effects depend heavily on particle size, polymer type, shape, and exposure route, making it difficult to draw broad conclusions. The study highlights major gaps in current knowledge and calls for more standardized research to better assess human health risks.

2022 Particle and Fibre Toxicology 163 citations
Article Tier 2

Biological Effects of Microplastics: A Review.

Researchers reviewed how microplastics harm a wide range of living things, finding they cause physical damage, inflammation, oxidative stress, and reproductive problems in aquatic animals, while also carrying toxic chemicals and dangerous bacteria into organisms. Major gaps remain in understanding the effects of long-term low-dose exposure and the risks posed by even tinier nanoplastics.

2025 Mağallaẗ ʻulūm al-rāfidayn
Article Tier 2

Environmental fate, ecotoxicity biomarkers, and potential health effects of micro- and nano-scale plastic contamination

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the environmental fate, ecotoxicity biomarkers, and potential health effects of micro- and nanoscale plastic particles. Researchers summarize how these particles move through ecosystems, accumulate in organisms, and trigger biological stress responses including oxidative damage and inflammation. The study emphasizes that while growing evidence points to harmful effects, more research is needed to understand the long-term health implications of chronic low-level exposure.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 195 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) and their potential toxicological outcomes: State of science, knowledge gaps and research needs

This review summarizes what is known about the toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics in mammals, drawing from both cell studies and animal experiments. Evidence suggests these particles can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, gut disruption, and reproductive harm, with effects depending on particle size, shape, and chemical composition. However, most studies use uniform lab-made particles rather than the irregular plastics humans actually encounter, making real-world risk assessment challenging.

2023 NanoImpact 76 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on marine environment and human health

This review examines the effects of micro- and nanoplastics on marine environments and human health, covering sources, environmental fate, and biological impacts. Researchers summarize evidence that these particles can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and disruption of gut microbiota in exposed organisms. The study highlights that while the full extent of health risks remains uncertain, the pervasive presence of plastic particles in food, water, and air makes continued research a public health priority.

2020 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 237 citations
Article Tier 2

Current Insights into Potential Effects of Micro-Nanoplastics on Human Health by in-vitro Tests

This review summarizes current evidence on how micro- and nanoplastics may affect human health, based on in-vitro laboratory studies. The research indicates that these tiny plastic particles can cause oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in human cells, and that their effects vary depending on size, shape, polymer type, and chemical additives present.

2021 Frontiers in Toxicology 68 citations
Article Tier 2

Adverse Outcome Phenomena and Toxicity Mechanisms of Micro and Nanoplastics in Human Health

This review examines the growing evidence that micro- and nanoplastics can enter the human body through food, water, and air, and may contribute to harmful biological effects. Researchers found that these tiny particles can trigger oxidative stress, inflammation, and disruption of hormonal and immune systems in laboratory studies. The study highlights the need for a unified research approach to better understand how microplastic exposure may affect long-term human health.

2024 Nano LIFE 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro-and Nanoplastic-Induced Biochemical Toxicity: Emerging Mechanisms and Health Risks Across Biological Systems

This comprehensive review synthesizes current understanding of how micro- and nanoplastics cause biochemical toxicity across biological systems, from plants and invertebrates to vertebrates and humans. Key mechanisms include oxidative stress, membrane disruption, immune activation, genotoxicity, endocrine disruption, and microbiome perturbation, all modulated by particle size, shape, and surface chemistry. The authors highlight critical gaps in standardization, chronic low-dose effect data, and the need for translatable biomarkers for risk assessment.

2026 IDOSR JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY BIOTECHNOLOGY AND ALLIED FIELDS
Article Tier 2

Toxicity and mechanism analysis of microplastics

This review summarized experimental evidence on the toxicity and mechanisms of action of microplastics across animal models, covering effects from ingestion including organ damage, oxidative stress, and immune disruption. The synthesis aimed to inform risk assessment for environmental and human health impacts of microplastic exposure.

2024 Transactions on Materials Biotechnology and Life Sciences
Review Tier 2

Potential human health risks due to environmental exposure to nano- and microplastics and knowledge gaps: A scoping review

This scoping review surveyed existing research on the potential human health effects of exposure to micro- and nanoplastics. The evidence suggests these particles may contribute to oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune disruption, but the review highlights major knowledge gaps and calls for more studies specifically focused on human health outcomes.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 701 citations
Article Tier 2

The Impact of Micro- and Nanoplastics on Aquatic Organisms: Mechanisms of Oxidative Stress and Implications for Human Health—A Review

This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics cause oxidative stress, a harmful chemical imbalance, in aquatic organisms from plankton to fish. These tiny plastics accumulate in the food chain and may reach humans through seafood consumption. While the evidence of harm in aquatic species is growing, more research is needed to fully understand the implications for human health.

2023 Environments 65 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecotoxicological and Health Impacts of Micro- and Nanoplastics

This review explores how micro- and nanoplastics affect aquatic ecosystems and potentially human health, examining toxicity mechanisms across multiple levels of biological organization. Researchers found that particle size, polymer type, and weathering influence how these contaminants cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and endocrine disruption, while the microbial communities forming on plastic surfaces may serve as reservoirs for pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes.

2026 IntechOpen eBooks
Article Tier 2

Toxicity Induced by Micro-and Nanoplastics through Oxidative Stress: The Role of Co-Exposure to Other Chemical Pollutants

This review examined how micro- and nanoplastics cause oxidative stress — a form of cellular damage — in living organisms, particularly when combined with other chemical pollutants in the environment. Co-exposure to microplastics and chemicals like pesticides or heavy metals tends to be more damaging than either pollutant alone.

2021 International Journal of Zoology and Animal Biology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Micro- and Nanoplastics Driving Adverse Human Health Effects

This review examines the biological mechanisms by which micro- and nanoplastics may cause harm in humans, including oxidative stress, inflammation, disruption of protective barriers, and immune system problems. Evidence from lab and animal studies suggests these particles can affect the gut, heart, brain, and reproductive systems, though human data is still limited to detecting plastics in tissues rather than proving they cause specific diseases. The authors highlight that most studies use higher doses than people actually encounter, making it important to develop research models that better reflect real-world chronic exposure.

2025 Toxics 5 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and genotoxicity to assess exposure to micro- and nanoplastics. A literature review

This systematic review summarizes research on biomarkers that can measure oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA damage caused by micro and nanoplastic exposure. Identifying reliable biomarkers is a crucial step toward understanding exactly how microplastics affect human health and developing tools to monitor exposure in people.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Do microplastics induce oxidative stress in marine invertebrates?

This review examined whether marine invertebrates exposed to microplastics show evidence of oxidative stress — a common cellular response to toxic injury — finding support for this effect across multiple species and polymer types. Oxidative stress is a key mechanism by which microplastics may harm marine organisms.

2018 Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar-und Meeresforschung (Alfred-Wegener-Institut) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

The plastic brain part II: new insights into micro- and nanoplastics neurotoxicity

This systematic review evaluated neurotoxicity evidence from studies on micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) exposure, covering a rapidly growing body of literature. The authors found consistent evidence of neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and behavioral disruption across multiple model systems, though dose-response relationships and human relevance remain areas of uncertainty.

2025 Microplastics and Nanoplastics
Article Tier 2

Cellular and Systemic Impacts of Microplastics and Nanoplastics

This review synthesized evidence on how micro- and nanoplastics cause cellular and systemic harm through inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and endocrine disruption across multiple organ systems. The authors emphasize that exposure is ubiquitous and that health impacts are no longer speculative.

2025 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Human and ecological health effects of nanoplastics: May not be a tiny problem

This review examined the health effects of nanoplastics in humans and ecosystems, finding that while direct human evidence is limited, nanoplastic particles cross biological barriers more readily than larger fragments and trigger oxidative stress, inflammation, and endocrine disruption in animal models, suggesting the problem is far from trivial.

2021 Current Opinion in Toxicology 12 citations
Review Tier 2

Micro- and Nanoplastics in the Environment: Current State of Research, Sources of Origin, Health Risks, and Regulations—A Comprehensive Review

This review summarizes the current state of research on micro- and nanoplastics found in air, water, and soil worldwide. These tiny plastic particles pose significant threats to human health including oxidative stress, inflammation, cellular damage, and possible cancer-causing effects, and the authors call for stronger regulations and more research into how they harm the body.

2025 Toxics 24 citations