Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics promote colitis-associated cancer by disrupting lipid metabolism and inducing DNA damage

In a mouse study, polystyrene nanoplastics accelerated the development of colon cancer linked to inflammatory bowel disease by disrupting fat metabolism and causing DNA damage in intestinal cells. The nanoplastics also altered gut bacteria and increased intestinal inflammation, suggesting that plastic particle exposure could worsen outcomes for people already at risk for colon cancer.

2025 Environment International 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Inflammatory response in the mid colon of ICR mice treated with polystyrene microplastics for two weeks

Researchers found that two weeks of oral polystyrene microplastic exposure in ICR mice induced an inflammatory response specifically in the mid colon, suggesting microplastics may contribute to colonic inflammation.

2021 Laboratory Animal Research 42 citations
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

Polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics aggravates colitis in a mouse model – effects on biodistribution, macrophage polarization, and gut microbiome

Researchers found that polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics aggravated colitis symptoms in a mouse model, increasing gut permeability, inflammatory cytokine levels, and tissue damage compared to controls. The study provides mechanistic evidence linking microplastic exposure to worsening of inflammatory bowel conditions.

2024 Research Square (Research Square)
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastics and Colorectal Cancer: Presence in Human Colorectal Tissues and Associations with Tumor Biology- A Systematic Review

This review of 13 studies found that tiny plastic particles called microplastics are present in human colon tissues, with higher amounts found in cancerous tumors compared to healthy tissue. The research suggests these plastic particles may contribute to colon cancer development by causing inflammation and creating conditions that help tumors grow. While more research is needed to prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship, this highlights growing concerns about how plastic pollution in our environment and food supply might affect human health.

2026
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene Microplastics Stimulate the Wnt Pathway to Cause Colorectal Cancer

Researchers investigated the role of polystyrene microplastics in colorectal cancer development and found that PS-MPs activate the Wnt signaling pathway, promoting tumor cell proliferation and migration. The findings provide mechanistic evidence linking dietary microplastic exposure to colorectal cancer progression.

2025 Theoretical and Natural Science
Article Tier 2

Ingestion of a human-relevant mixture of environmentally sourced microplastics promotes inflammation and tumorigenesis in the mouse colon

Researchers exposed mice to a realistic mixture of environmentally sourced microplastics composed of the four most common polymer types and studied the effects on the colon. They found that ingestion of this mixture promoted inflammation and enhanced tumor development in the mouse colon. The study suggests that exposure to environmentally relevant microplastic mixtures may have implications for colorectal health that warrant further investigation.

2026 Environmental Pollution
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in a colitis mouse model – effects on biodistribution, macrophage polarization, and gut microbiome

Researchers exposed colitis mouse models to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics to test whether MNP exposure worsens inflammatory bowel disease, finding that MNPs altered biodistribution and exacerbated inflammatory responses in animals with pre-existing gut inflammation.

2025
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastic Exposure and Its Dual Impact on Metabolic Syndrome and Pathways of Colorectal Carcinogenesis: A Systematic Review of Epidemiological, Experimental, and Mechanistic Evidence

This systematic review examines evidence linking microplastic exposure to both metabolic syndrome and colorectal cancer pathways. It found a biologically plausible connection between microplastic exposure and these conditions, though a direct clinical link to cancer has not yet been established.

2025 Journal of Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Microplastics role in cell migration and distribution during cancer cell division

Researchers exposed human colorectal cancer cells to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics and found the particles persisted inside cells without being eliminated, were passed from parent to daughter cells during division, and significantly increased cell migration -- a key step in cancer spreading. These findings suggest microplastics could act as hidden promoters of tumor progression in the gut, where plastic exposure through food is highest.

2024 Chemosphere 84 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

From Exposure to Oncogenesis: the Role of Microplastics and Associated Pollutants in Cancer - a Literature Review

This literature review examined the growing evidence linking microplastic exposure to cancer development. Microplastics have been found in human lung, liver, and colon tissue, and research suggests they may promote cancer through chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and by carrying known carcinogens like heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants into the body.

2025 International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science
Article Tier 2

Microplastics: An emerging environmental risk factor for gut microbiota dysbiosis and cancer development?

This review examines how microplastics may disrupt the gut microbiome and immune system in ways that could promote cancer development. Evidence from recent studies suggests microplastics can cause chronic inflammation, alter the balance of gut bacteria, and trigger molecular pathways linked to several cancer types including lung, liver, breast, and colon cancer. While more human research is needed, the review highlights a concerning connection between microplastic exposure, gut health, and cancer risk.

2025 Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology 8 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

Novel Characterization of Constipation Phenotypes in ICR Mice Orally Administrated with Polystyrene Microplastics

Researchers found that oral administration of 0.5 micrometer polystyrene microplastics to ICR mice for two weeks induced significant constipation-like phenotypes, including altered water consumption, reduced stool weight and water content, and changes in gastrointestinal transit markers. The study provides direct experimental evidence that microplastic ingestion can disrupt bowel function in mammals.

2021 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of the Toxicity of Polystyrene Microplastic in the Colon and Liver of Adult NMRI Mice

Researchers orally administered polystyrene microplastics to adult male mice at four doses for four weeks and examined histological changes in the colon and liver. Both organs showed dose-dependent tissue damage including inflammation and oxidative stress markers, with the colon showing earlier onset injury due to direct contact with ingested particles.

2025 Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
Systematic Review Tier 1

The clinical relevance of microplastic exposure on colorectal cancer: A systematic review

This systematic review of four studies found that microplastic accumulation in colorectal cancer tissue (25.9-32.2 particles/g) was significantly higher than in healthy controls, with polyamide, polycarbonate, and polypropylene as the most common polymers detected. While a causal relationship has not been established, the evidence points to microplastics as a potential environmental factor in colorectal cancer development.

2025 Cancer Epidemiology 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Preliminary Study on the Toxic Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics in Human Colorectal Cells

Researchers tested the toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics on human colorectal cells in the laboratory and found that both 80-nanometer and 500-nanometer particles significantly reduced cell viability and induced programmed cell death. The effects were size- and concentration-dependent, with smaller particles generally causing greater toxicity, providing experimental evidence for evaluating the intestinal health risks of microplastic exposure.

2026 Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)
Article Tier 2

Influence of Microplastics on Manifestations of Experimental Chronic Colitis

Researchers studied whether consuming microplastics worsens chronic colon inflammation in mice. While microplastics alone did not cause visible damage to healthy intestines, they significantly increased the severity of colitis symptoms, including more ulcers and greater inflammatory cell infiltration, in mice with pre-existing colon inflammation. The findings suggest that microplastic exposure may be particularly concerning for individuals who already have inflammatory bowel conditions.

2025 Toxics 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics trigger colonic inflammation in rats via the TLR4/NF-κB/COX-2 pathway and modulation of intestinal microbiota

Rats exposed to polystyrene microplastics for 90 days developed significant colon inflammation, including damaged gut lining, increased inflammatory markers, and disrupted gut bacteria. The study identified a specific inflammatory pathway (TLR4/NF-kB/COX-2) through which microplastics trigger intestinal inflammation, providing important clues about how plastic particles in food and water could contribute to gut diseases in humans.

2025 Toxicology 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in a colitis mouse model – effects on biodistribution, macrophage polarization, and gut microbiome

Researchers induced colitis in mice using dextran sodium sulfate and orally administered polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics of three sizes, then tracked biodistribution, macrophage polarization, and gut microbiome changes. In colitis conditions, microplastic uptake into systemic tissues was enhanced, macrophages shifted toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype, and gut microbial diversity decreased, suggesting that inflammatory bowel disease increases vulnerability to microplastic-driven systemic harm.

2025 Microplastics and Nanoplastics
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

Micro(nano)plastics pollution and human health: How plastics can induce carcinogenesis to humans?

This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics enter the human body through food, water, and air, and how they may contribute to cancer development. Common plastic types like polystyrene and PVC, along with toxic chemicals they carry such as PAHs and PCBs, have been linked to DNA damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation, all of which can promote cancer. The paper highlights that while the evidence is growing, more research is needed to understand the full cancer risk from chronic microplastic exposure.

2022 Chemosphere 367 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as emerging carcinogens: from environmental pollutants to oncogenic drivers

This review examines growing evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics may play a role in cancer development, with these particles found in human tumor tissues from the lungs, colon, stomach, breast, and other organs. The particles appear to promote cancer through chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, DNA damage, and disruption of key cancer-related signaling pathways. While direct proof of causation in humans is still lacking, the accumulating evidence from lab studies, animal experiments, and human tissue analysis suggests microplastics deserve serious attention as potential contributors to cancer risk.

2025 Molecular Cancer 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and the Rising Tide of Early‐Onset Colorectal Cancer: Exploring the Environmental Gut Connection

This paper explores the potential connection between microplastic exposure and the rising rates of early-onset colorectal cancer. The study discusses how microplastics may interact with the gut environment, suggesting that further research is needed to understand whether environmental microplastic contamination could be contributing to this emerging health trend.

2025 ANZ Journal of Surgery 1 citations