Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Micro- and Nanoplastics: A Paradigm Shift in the Pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

This review paper summarizes research showing that tiny plastic particles from food and water may contribute to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a painful condition affecting the digestive system. Early studies suggest these microscopic plastics can damage the gut lining and trigger inflammation, though more research is needed to prove they directly cause IBD. Since plastic exposure can potentially be reduced, understanding this connection could lead to new ways to prevent or treat digestive diseases.

2026 Journal of Translational Gastroenterology
Article Tier 2

The role of microplastics in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases

This review of existing research found that tiny plastic particles we eat and drink may contribute to inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The plastic bits can damage the gut lining, cause inflammation, and disrupt the healthy bacteria in our intestines. While more research is needed to confirm the connection, this suggests that reducing plastic pollution could be important for protecting our digestive health.

2026 Russian Journal of Evidence-Based Gastroenterology
Review Tier 2

Micro- and nano-plastics, intestinal inflammation, and inflammatory bowel disease: A review of the literature

This review summarizes the growing evidence linking micro- and nanoplastic exposure to intestinal inflammation and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Studies show these tiny plastic particles can trigger immune responses in the gut, alter the gut microbiome, and worsen intestinal inflammation, though more research using standardized methods is needed to confirm these effects in humans.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of Microplastics in Human Feces Reveals a Correlation between Fecal Microplastics and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Status

Researchers analyzed microplastics in the stool of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and healthy volunteers, finding that IBD patients had significantly higher concentrations of microplastics in their feces. PET plastic and polyamide were the most common types found, likely originating from food packaging and dust. The positive correlation between microplastic levels and IBD severity suggests that microplastic exposure may be linked to gut inflammation, though it is not yet clear whether the plastics contribute to the disease or the disease causes more plastic retention.

2021 Environmental Science & Technology 709 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis\nof Microplastics in Human Feces Reveals a\nCorrelation between Fecal Microplastics and Inflammatory Bowel Disease\nStatus

Researchers found higher concentrations and greater diversity of microplastics in fecal samples from inflammatory bowel disease patients compared to healthy controls, suggesting a potential association between microplastic ingestion and gut inflammation, though causality remains to be established.

2021 Figshare 5 citations
Review Tier 2

Effects of microplastic and engineered nanomaterials on inflammatory bowel disease: A review

This review examines how microplastics and engineered nanomaterials affect people with inflammatory bowel disease, who may be especially vulnerable to these environmental particles. Researchers found that microplastics could worsen intestinal inflammation, while some nanomaterials shifted from mildly harmful to therapeutic effects depending on gut health status. The findings highlight the need for more research on how environmental particles affect people with pre-existing gut conditions.

2023 Chemosphere 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to polyethylene microplastics exacerbate inflammatory bowel disease tightly associated with intestinal gut microflora

This study found that polyethylene microplastics, one of the most common types found in everyday products, worsened inflammatory bowel disease symptoms by disrupting the gut microbiome. The microplastics changed the balance of gut bacteria in ways that increased intestinal inflammation. These findings suggest that swallowing microplastics through food and drinks could make existing bowel conditions worse or contribute to gut inflammation in otherwise healthy people.

2024 RSC Advances 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of micro- and nanoplastics on gastrointestinal diseases: Recent advances

This review summarizes how micro- and nanoplastics can harm the digestive system by causing oxidative stress, inflammation, cell death, and disruption of gut bacteria. These connected pathways can damage the intestinal lining and may contribute to conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. The findings highlight the importance of understanding how everyday plastic exposure through food and water could affect gut health over time.

2025 European Journal of Internal Medicine 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Orally Ingested Micro- and Nano-Plastics: A Hidden Driver of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Colorectal Cancer.

This review synthesizes evidence linking ingested micro- and nano-plastics to inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer risk, proposing that microplastics act as a hidden driver of gut inflammation in vulnerable populations. The authors argue that intestinal accumulation of microplastics triggers immune and oxidative stress pathways that contribute to disease progression.

2024 Cancers
Article Tier 2

Adverse health effects of emerging contaminants on inflammatory bowel disease

This review summarizes how emerging environmental contaminants, including microplastics, endocrine disruptors, herbicides, and heavy metals, may contribute to inflammatory bowel disease. Researchers found evidence that these pollutants can disrupt gut barrier function, alter the microbiome, and trigger immune responses linked to bowel inflammation. The study suggests that reducing exposure to these increasingly common contaminants could help lower the rising incidence of inflammatory bowel disease.

2023 Frontiers in Public Health 44 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Impact of microplastics on the intestinal microbiota: A systematic review of preclinical evidence

Across 28 preclinical studies, microplastics triggered intestinal dysbiosis characterized by increased Firmicutes and Proteobacteria and decreased Bacteroidetes, while increasing gut permeability and elevating pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6.

2022 Life Sciences 70 citations
Article Tier 2

Understanding the links between micro/nanoplastics-induced gut microbes dysbiosis and potential diseases in fish: A review

This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics accumulate in fish intestines and disrupt their gut bacteria, potentially leading to inflammation, immune problems, and metabolic diseases. The disrupted gut microbiome can weaken the intestinal barrier, allowing harmful substances to enter the fish's body. Since fish are a major protein source for billions of people, understanding how microplastics damage fish gut health is important for assessing risks to human food safety.

2024 Environmental Pollution 14 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Impacts of microplastics on gut health: Current status and future directions

This systematic review found consistent evidence across mouse, fish, and earthworm models that microplastics disrupt gut microbiota composition, impair intestinal barrier integrity, and trigger gastrointestinal inflammation. The correlation between microplastic exposure and gut health deterioration was statistically significant across all animal models examined.

2025 Indian Journal of Gastroenterology 2 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastics as Contaminants in Water Bodies and Their Threat to the Aquatic Animals: A Mini-Review

This review summarizes research on microplastics as aquatic contaminants, covering their origins, global distribution, and harmful effects on aquatic animals including impaired growth, oxidative stress, disrupted gut microbiota, and reproductive and immune system damage.

2022 Animals 23 citations
Article Tier 2

A Comprehensive Narrative Review of Potential Gastrointestinal Adverse Effects From Micro(nano) Plastic Exposure

This narrative review synthesizes evidence on gastrointestinal adverse effects of micro- and nanoplastic exposure, examining how these particles interact with gut microbiota, mucosal barriers, and immune tissue to contribute to inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, and colorectal cancer risk.

2025 Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and health hazards: gastrointestinal risk assessment across a multi-species perspective

This review assesses the gastrointestinal health risks of micro- and nanoplastics across multiple species, from aquatic organisms to mammals, examining how these particles interact with the digestive system. Researchers found that microplastics can cause gut inflammation, alter the microbiome, and potentially cross the intestinal barrier into other tissues. The study highlights that understanding effects across species can help predict potential risks to human digestive health.

2025 Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in Aquatic Ecosystems: Environmental Behaviour, Biological Impacts, and Public Health Implications- A Comprehensive Review

This review paper summarizes existing research showing that tiny plastic particles called microplastics are now found throughout our water systems and food chain, including in seafood and drinking water that people consume. The research shows these particles can cause inflammation and disrupt hormones in the body, but scientists still need better methods to study long-term health effects. Understanding microplastic pollution is important because it affects the safety of our food and water supply.

2026 UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
Article Tier 2

Dietary microplastics: Occurrence, exposure and health implications

This review examined the occurrence, human exposure pathways, and health implications of microplastics in food. Researchers found that microplastics have been documented in fishery products, drinking water, sea salt, and other foods, with intestinal absorption considered limited due to particle size. The study suggests that while direct toxicity from ingested microplastics requires further investigation, the chemicals added during plastic manufacturing could potentially cross the intestinal barrier.

2022 Environmental Research 75 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro(nano)plastics in food system: potential health impacts on human intestinal system.

This review assessed how micro(nano)plastics in the human food system reach the intestine and accumulate in the gut, summarizing evidence that they can alter intestinal barrier function, trigger inflammation, and disrupt the gut microbiome, with implications for long-term digestive health.

2024 Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
Article Tier 2

Influence of Microplastics on Morphological Manifestations of Experimental Acute Colitis

Researchers fed polystyrene microplastics to mice for six weeks and found that healthy mice developed changes in their colon lining, including altered mucus composition and immune cell populations. When mice with experimentally induced colitis also consumed microplastics, their intestinal inflammation was significantly more severe. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may worsen inflammatory bowel conditions.

2023 Toxics 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Distinct Effects between Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastics: Exacerbation of Adverse Outcomes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease-like Zebrafish and Mice

This study compared the effects of micro-sized versus nano-sized polystyrene plastics in zebrafish and mice with inflammatory bowel disease. Nanoplastics caused significantly worse gut inflammation, barrier damage, and immune disruption than larger microplastics in both species. The findings suggest that people with existing digestive conditions like IBD may be especially vulnerable to nanoplastic exposure from food and water.

2025 ACS Nano 7 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastic effects on mouse colon in normal and colitis conditions: A literature review

This literature review examined studies on how microplastic exposure affects the mouse colon under both normal and inflammatory conditions. Evidence indicates that microplastics may contribute to intestinal inflammation and could worsen existing colitis. The review highlights the need for further research to better understand how microplastic ingestion may influence gut health in humans.

2025 PeerJ 4 citations
Article Tier 2

The infiltration of microplastics in human systems: Gastrointestinal accumulation and pathogenic impacts

This review focuses on how microplastics accumulate in the human digestive system and what health problems they might cause. The authors explain that people ingest microplastics through food, water, and air, and these particles may trigger inflammation, disrupt gut bacteria, and potentially contribute to gastrointestinal diseases.

2025 Heliyon 10 citations
Article Tier 2

An innovative in vitro model of IBD to assess micro-/nano-plastics intestinal toxicity.

Researchers developed an innovative in vitro intestinal inflammation model (IBD model) to assess the toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics at realistic concentrations and polymer types, moving beyond the high-dose polystyrene-only studies that dominate current literature.

2023 Repository of the University of Namur