Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics causes brain abnormalities in progeny

Researchers found that maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics caused brain abnormalities in offspring, demonstrating that nanoplastics can cross maternal barriers and affect neurological development in progeny with implications for developmental toxicology.

2021 Research Square (Research Square) 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics impacts developmental milestones and brain structure in mouse offspring

Researchers exposed pregnant mice to polystyrene nanoplastics and studied the effects on their offspring's brain development. The study found that maternal nanoplastic exposure affected developmental milestones and brain structure in the young mice. The findings suggest that nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy may pose risks to fetal brain development, though more research is needed to understand the implications for humans.

2023 Environmental Science Advances 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy and lactation on neurodevelopment of rat offspring

When pregnant and nursing rats were exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics, their offspring showed thinner brain cortexes, disrupted neurotransmitter levels, damaged connections between brain cells, and problems with anxiety and spatial memory. This study suggests that maternal exposure to nanoplastics during pregnancy and breastfeeding could affect brain development in offspring.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Teratological, neurochemical and histomorphic changes in the limbic areas of F1 mice progeny due to co-parental polystyrene nanoplastic exposure

Researchers exposed parent mice to polystyrene nanoplastics before and during pregnancy and found that offspring exhibited skeletal and visceral malformations, impaired neonatal reflexes, learning deficits, and structural brain changes — including reduced hippocampal neurons — demonstrating transgenerational neurodevelopmental harm from nanoplastic exposure.

2024 Toxicology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Neurotoxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics with different particle sizes at environment-related concentrations on early zebrafish embryos

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes at concentrations found in the environment and observed significant brain damage. The nanoplastics caused loss of neurons, shortened nerve fibers, and disrupted brain signaling systems that control behavior. Smaller nanoplastics caused the most severe damage because they could pass through protective barriers more easily, suggesting that the tiniest plastic particles pose the greatest risk to brain development.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 99 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of orally administered polystyrene nanoplastics on reproduction and development in rodents

This study examined the reproductive and developmental effects of orally administered polystyrene nanoplastics in an animal model, finding that NP ingestion impaired fertility metrics and offspring development, contributing to growing evidence of nanoplastic reproductive toxicity.

2025 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Selective bioaccumulation of polystyrene nanoplastics in fetal rat brain and damage to myelin development

Pregnant rats exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics passed the particles through the placenta into their fetuses' brains, where they accumulated most heavily in the cerebellum. This exposure damaged the protective coating around nerve fibers (myelin) and reduced key brain cells, leading to motor problems in the offspring -- raising concerns about how nanoplastics during pregnancy could affect fetal brain development.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 38 citations
Article Tier 2

To what extent are orally ingested nanoplastics toxic to the hippocampus in young adult rats?

Researchers investigated polystyrene nanoplastic toxicity to the hippocampus in young adult rats, finding that oral exposure caused oxidative stress, inflammation, and histopathological changes in brain tissue with potential implications for cognitive function.

2023 Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Nano-scale dangers: Unravelling the impact of nanoplastics on human trophoblast invasion

Researchers exposed human trophoblast cells — which form the placenta — to 40 nm and 200 nm polystyrene nanoparticles and found that the smaller particles reduced expression of invasion-related proteins (integrins, N-cadherin, matrix metalloproteinase-2) and impaired cell migration, suggesting nanoplastics may interfere with early placental development.

2024 Chemico-Biological Interactions 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Molecular effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on human neural stem cells

Researchers exposed human brain stem cells to tiny polystyrene nanoplastics and found they caused oxidative stress, DNA damage, inflammation, and cell death. These findings suggest that nanoplastics could potentially harm brain development if they reach neural tissue, though more research is needed to understand real-world exposure levels.

2024 PLoS ONE 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingested Polystyrene Nanospheres Translocate to Placenta and Fetal Tissues in Pregnant Rats: Potential Health Implications

In a study on pregnant rats, researchers found that ingested nanoplastics (tiny 25-nanometer plastic spheres) crossed both the intestinal barrier and the placental barrier to reach every fetal organ examined, including the brain, heart, liver, kidneys, and lungs. This is the first study to directly demonstrate that swallowed nanoplastics can travel from a mother's gut to developing fetal tissues. The findings raise serious concerns about potential health effects of nanoplastic exposure during human pregnancy.

2023 Nanomaterials 74 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on the Biology of Human Neural Stem Cells and Human Cerebral Organoids.

This study investigated the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on human neural stem cells and human cerebral organoids, examining whether nanoplastics that have been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier and placenta can disrupt normal brain development. Given the lack of prior research on nanoplastic effects on the developing brain, the findings carry significant implications for understanding neurodevelopmental risks from early-life plastic exposure.

2023 IBRO Neuroscience Reports
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene nanoplastic size on zebrafish embryo development

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene nanoplastics of four sizes and found only the smallest (30 nm) caused mortality and altered oxidative stress and apoptosis gene expression, while larger particles (100–450 nm) were ingested and accumulated in the digestive system without causing developmental malformations.

2024 Toxicology in Vitro 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanopolystyrene translocation and fetal deposition after acute lung exposure during late-stage pregnancy

Researchers found that nanoscale polystyrene particles inhaled by pregnant mice were able to cross into the placenta and deposit in fetal tissues. The findings raise concerns about potential developmental risks from airborne nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy.

2020 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics modulate neurite length in a size-specific manner

Researchers exposed primary neurons to polystyrene nanoplastics of three different sizes (50, 100, and 250 nm) at low concentrations to evaluate effects on brain cell development. The study found that nanoplastics modulate neurite length in a size-specific manner, suggesting that even short, low-dose exposures to plastic nanoparticles may affect neuronal growth and connectivity.

2026 NanoImpact
Article Tier 2

Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoparticles retarded fetal growth and triggered metabolic disorders of placenta and fetus in mice

Researchers exposed pregnant mice to polystyrene nanoplastics through drinking water and found that higher concentrations led to significantly reduced fetal weight. The nanoplastics caused abnormal cell structures in the placenta and disrupted metabolic processes in both placental tissue and fetal livers. The study suggests that maternal nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy can cross the placental barrier and interfere with normal fetal growth and metabolism.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 133 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic toxicology following gestational and lactational exposure

This review examines evidence from animal studies showing that polystyrene nanoplastics can cross the placental barrier during pregnancy, accumulate in maternal and offspring organs, and cause widespread toxicity. Reported effects in offspring include reproductive and endocrine disruption, neurodevelopmental abnormalities, cardiovascular damage, and metabolic disorders, with the severity of effects influenced by particle size, dose, and timing of exposure.

2026 Nanotoxicology
Article Tier 2

Defining the size ranges of polystyrene nanoplastics according to their ability to cross biological barriers

Researchers systematically examined polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes to define the size ranges at which they can cross biological barriers, providing a more precise definition of nanoplastic dimensions relevant to toxicological assessment.

2023 Environmental Science Nano 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Single pulmonary nanopolystyrene exposure in late-stage pregnancy dysregulates maternal and fetal cardiovascular function

A single lung exposure to nanoplastics in pregnant rats during late pregnancy reduced fetal and placental weight and caused cardiovascular problems in both the mother and the developing fetus. The nanoplastics disrupted blood flow through the uterine arteries and impaired fetal heart function. This study is concerning because it shows that even a brief inhalation of nanoplastics during pregnancy can have immediate effects on fetal development.

2024 Toxicological Sciences 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics exposure caused defective neural tube morphogenesis through caveolae-mediated endocytosis and faulty apoptosis

This study found that polystyrene nanoplastics caused abnormal neural tube formation in early embryonic development by being taken up through a specific cellular pathway and triggering defective cell death. The findings suggest nanoplastics could potentially interfere with fetal brain development, raising serious concerns about exposure during pregnancy.

2021 Figshare
Article Tier 2

The potential toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics to human trophoblasts in vitro

Researchers used human trophoblast cells to evaluate the potential toxicity of 100-nanometer polystyrene nanoplastics on placental function. The study found that nanoplastic exposure affected trophoblast cell viability and function at certain concentrations, suggesting potential implications for understanding nanoplastic effects during pregnancy.

2022 Environmental Pollution 70 citations
Review Tier 2

Micro- and nanoplastic toxicity: A review on size, type, source, and test-organism implications

This comprehensive review analyzed 615 studies on the toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics across different polymer types, sizes, and organisms. A major finding is that over 90% of nanoplastic research uses only polystyrene, leaving huge gaps in our understanding of other common plastics at the nanoscale. The review highlights that smaller particles are generally more toxic and that more research is urgently needed on the nanoplastics people are most likely to encounter in everyday life.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 149 citations
Article Tier 2

Maternal Exposure to Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastics Causes Fetal Growth Restriction in Mice

Researchers exposed pregnant mice to polystyrene micro and nanoplastics and found that exposure caused fetal growth restriction and placental abnormalities. The study observed that plastic particles accumulated in placental tissue and disrupted normal placental function. These findings raise concern that maternal exposure to plastic particles during pregnancy may interfere with fetal development.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology Letters 93 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanopolystyrene translocation and fetal deposition after acute lung exposure during late-stage pregnancy

This animal study found that nanopolystyrene particles inhaled by pregnant mice during late pregnancy were transferred across the placenta and deposited in fetal tissues. The findings provide experimental evidence that airborne nanoplastics can reach unborn fetuses, raising serious concerns about developmental exposure from breathing indoor or outdoor air containing plastic particles.

2020 Research Square (Research Square) 11 citations