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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Are Microplastics Toxic? A Review from Eco-Toxicity to Effects on the Gut Microbiota
ClearEffects 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.
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.
Micro(nano)plastics and Their Potential Impact on Human Gut Health: A Narrative Review
This review summarizes research on how micro- and nanoplastics affect the gut, finding that they can damage the intestinal lining, trigger immune responses, and disrupt the balance of beneficial gut bacteria in both cell studies and animal models. Since humans are primarily exposed to microplastics through food and food packaging, understanding these gut effects is essential for assessing the true health risks of plastic pollution.
The role of gut microbiota in MP/NP-induced toxicity
This review summarizes how micro- and nanoplastics disrupt gut bacteria and why that matters for overall health. The tiny plastic particles change the composition and function of the gut microbiome, which can trigger inflammation, weaken the intestinal barrier, and potentially contribute to diseases beyond the gut through the immune and nervous systems.
Potential Health Impact of Microplastics: A Review of Environmental Distribution, Human Exposure, and Toxic Effects
This review summarizes existing research on how microplastics are found throughout the environment and in human samples, entering the body through food, air, and skin contact. Lab studies in cells and animals show microplastics can cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, immune reactions, brain toxicity, and reproductive harm, and early human health data links microplastic exposure to several chronic diseases.
Recent advances in toxicological research and potential health impact of microplastics and nanoplastics in vivo
This review summarizes the growing body of research on how micro- and nanoplastics affect living organisms, covering impacts from physical tissue damage and gut disruption to reproductive harm and immune system interference. Researchers found that these tiny particles can also act as carriers for heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and pathogens, potentially amplifying their harmful effects. The evidence indicates that microplastics may move up the food chain and ultimately reach humans, though the full extent of health risks remains under investigation.
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.
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.
A review on microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment: Their occurrence, exposure routes, toxic studies, and potential effects on human health
This review summarizes what is known about how microplastics and nanoplastics enter the human body through food, air, and skin contact, and what they do once inside. Studies on cells and animals show these tiny particles can cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, inflammation, and harm to the immune, digestive, reproductive, and nervous systems. The research makes clear that microplastics are not just an environmental problem but a direct concern for human health.
The ant that may well destroy a whole dam: a systematic review of the health implication of nanoplastics/microplastics through gut microbiota
This systematic review summarizes existing research on how nanoplastics and microplastics disrupt gut bacteria in various organisms. The findings show that plastic particle exposure consistently alters gut microbiome composition, which in turn affects the host's immune function, metabolism, and overall health. These gut bacteria changes may be a key pathway through which microplastics harm human health.
Toxicity of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Mammalian Systems
This review summarizes recent findings on how micro- and nanoplastics affect mammalian health, drawing on mouse model experiments and human cell line studies. Researchers found evidence that these tiny plastic particles can disrupt gut microbiota, cause metabolic toxicity, and accumulate in tissues after ingestion or inhalation. The study suggests that long-term accumulation of micro- and nanoplastics in human tissues could have negative health consequences that are not yet fully understood.
Untoward Effects of Micro- and Nanoplastics: An Expert Review of Their Biological Impact and Epigenetic Effects
This expert review examined the biological and epigenetic effects of micro- and nanoplastics on living organisms. The study suggests that while intestinal uptake of plastic particles appears relatively low and size-dependent, nanoplastics may dysregulate molecular signaling pathways, alter gut microbiota composition, and induce transgenerational epigenetic changes potentially linked to metabolic disorders.
Effect of microplastics and nanoplastics in gastrointestinal tract on gut health: A systematic review.
This systematic review of 30 in vitro studies found that microplastics and nanoplastics cause size- and concentration-dependent damage to human gastrointestinal cells, including increased oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and apoptosis. Smaller particles consistently showed greater cellular uptake and biological effects, though chronic low-dose exposure generally produced minimal impacts.
Metabolomics-Based Insights Into the Toxicological Effects and Mechanisms of Microplastics: A Comprehensive Review.
This review of existing research shows that microplastics—tiny plastic particles found everywhere in our environment—can harm multiple body systems including the gut, brain, and reproductive organs. Scientists used a technique called metabolomics (studying how our body processes chemicals) to discover that microplastics disrupt normal metabolism, potentially affecting everything from digestion and brain function to fertility and child development. This research helps explain why microplastic pollution may be a serious health threat that requires urgent attention and solutions.
Toxicological Research on Nano and Microplastics in Environmental Pollution: Current Advances and Future Directions
This review summarizes existing research on how nano- and microplastics from our massive global plastic production enter aquatic environments, absorb harmful chemicals, and move through food chains into living organisms. Studies show these particles can cause brain damage, disrupt metabolism, trigger inflammation, and produce harmful oxidative stress in aquatic species, with microplastics even detected in commercial fish that people eat.
Gut microbiota, a key to understanding the knowledge gaps on micro-nanoplastics-related biological effects and biodegradation
This review explores how micro- and nanoplastics affect the community of microorganisms living in the gut, and how those same gut microbes might be able to break down plastic particles. Swallowed microplastics can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria, potentially leading to various diseases. On the other hand, some gut bacteria can actually degrade plastics into smaller, less harmful molecules, opening a possible avenue for biological cleanup.
Gut microbiota as an emerging target for the health implications of microplastics
This review examines how microplastic exposure disrupts the gut microbiome, finding evidence that microplastics damage intestinal barrier proteins, promote inflammation and oxidative stress, and may drive systemic effects including neurotoxicity and reproductive toxicity through gut-mediated pathways.
Micro(nano)plastics and their potential impact on human gut health: a narrative review
This narrative review synthesizes evidence on how microplastics and nanoplastics affect the human gut, discussing ingestion routes, gut barrier interactions, microbiome disruption, and potential systemic health effects.
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.
Unveiling the toxicity of micro-nanoplastics: A systematic exploration of understanding environmental and health implications
This review summarizes what is known about the toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics, noting they can cross critical barriers in the body including the blood-brain barrier. Studies in lab animals show these particles can cause DNA damage, oxidative stress, and cell death, with potential effects on the brain, heart, lungs, and skin, underscoring the need for more real-world human studies.
Is There Evidence of Health Risks From Exposure to Micro- and Nanoplastics in Foods?
This review examines the evidence for health risks from micro- and nanoplastic exposure through food, noting that plastic particles can carry physical, chemical, and biological hazards. The study suggests that ingested plastics could contribute to inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune responses, and may even influence food allergy development by altering gut permeability and intestinal microbiome balance.
Ecotoxicological Impacts of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Terrestrial and Aquatic Environments
A broad review of ecotoxicological studies found that micro- and nanoplastics cause physical harm, oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, and reproductive impairment across a wide range of terrestrial and aquatic organisms, with nanoplastics generally exhibiting greater toxicity due to their smaller size and greater bioavailability.
Toxicological impact of microplastics and nanoplastics on humans: understanding the mechanistic aspect of the interaction
This review explains the different ways microplastics and nanoplastics cause harm in the human body, including triggering oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, and disruption of gut bacteria. The smaller the plastic particle, the more easily it crosses biological barriers like the gut wall and blood-brain barrier, potentially reaching organs throughout the body. The authors highlight that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased plastic waste, adding to the growing burden of human microplastic exposure.
Toxicological Evaluation of Effects of Some Environmental Pollutants on Intestinal Microbiota: Traditional Review
This review examines how various environmental pollutants affect the gut microbiome — the community of microorganisms in the intestinal tract. Microplastics are among the pollutants discussed, and their ability to alter gut microbiota composition is increasingly recognized as a mechanism by which plastic particles may harm human and animal health.