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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Impacts of microplastics on immunity
ClearEffect of micro- and nanoplastics as food contaminants on the immune system
This review synthesized research on how microplastic and nanoplastic exposure affects immune system function, finding evidence across multiple studies that these particles can modulate immune responses and trigger inflammatory pathways in exposed organisms. The authors highlight immune disruption as an emerging health concern from micro- and nanoplastic contamination.
The Emerging Threat of Micro- and Nanoplastics on the Maturation and Activity of Immune Cells
This review examines how micro and nanoplastics affect the immune system, focusing on their impact on immune cell development and function. Studies show that these tiny plastic particles can alter how immune cells mature and respond to threats, potentially weakening the body's defenses or triggering excessive inflammation. Since humans are constantly exposed to microplastics through food, water, and air, understanding these immune effects is critical for assessing long-term health risks.
Immune Disruption and Disease Development by Microplastic Exposure
This review synthesized growing evidence that microplastic and nanoplastic exposure disrupts the human immune system, covering how particles ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through skin can trigger inflammation, impair immune cell function, and potentially contribute to autoimmune and allergic conditions.
Immunotoxicity by Microplastics
This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics, after entering the body through the gut, lungs, or skin, can disrupt the immune system by triggering inflammation, causing oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules), and impairing immune cell function, while highlighting major gaps in our understanding of these long-term health effects.
Effects of microplastics on the immune system: How much should we worry?
This review examines how microplastics may affect the human immune system, noting that people are mainly exposed through food and breathing. While early research shows microplastics can trigger inflammation and immune responses in lab and animal studies, the authors stress that more research is needed to understand what this means for human health at real-world exposure levels.
Micro- and Nanoplastics and the Immune System: Mechanistic Insights and Future Directions
This review summarizes how micro- and nanoplastics disrupt the human immune system at the cellular level, impairing key immune cells like macrophages, dendritic cells, and T cells. The particles trigger chronic low-grade inflammation through oxidative stress and activation of inflammatory pathways, and can worsen autoimmune conditions like lupus and inflammatory bowel disease in animal studies. These findings raise concerns that ongoing microplastic exposure could gradually weaken immune function and contribute to immune-related diseases in people.
Immunotoxicity and intestinal effects of nano- and microplastics: a review of the literature
This review examines the evidence on how nano- and microplastics affect the immune system and intestinal health. The findings suggest that exposure to these particles can disrupt the gut microbiome and impair critical intestinal barrier functions, potentially contributing to the development of chronic inflammatory and immune conditions.
Microplastic pollution as a grand challenge in marine research: A closer look at their adverse impacts on the immune and reproductive systems
This review summarizes the effects of microplastic pollution on the immune and reproductive systems of marine species, covering studies on invertebrates and vertebrates exposed to various plastic types. Researchers found that immune responses varied by species, with changes in defense mechanisms observed in fish and cellular damage in mollusk immune cells. The study highlights that while reproductive and immune impacts of microplastics are increasingly documented, significant knowledge gaps remain, particularly for vertebrate marine species.
Nanoplastics and Immune Disruption: A Systematic Review of Exposure Routes, Mechanisms, and Health Implications
This systematic review found that nanoplastics — extremely tiny plastic particles — can cross biological barriers and disrupt immune function in laboratory studies. The evidence suggests these particles may trigger inflammation and could potentially contribute to autoimmune conditions, though human studies are still limited.
The impact of micro- and nanoplastics on immune system development and functions: Current knowledge and future directions
This review summarizes existing research on how micro- and nanoplastics affect the immune system, finding that exposure can disrupt blood cell development, alter immune cell behavior, and trigger inflammatory responses in lab and animal studies. While some studies show significant effects on organs like the spleen and intestines, others found minimal impact at environmentally realistic exposure levels, highlighting the need for more standardized research.
The Micronanoplastics-immune axis across organ systems: towards a research agenda
This review synthesizes current evidence on how micro- and nanoplastics interact with the immune system across multiple organ systems in the human body. Researchers examined the primary routes of exposure through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact, as well as the cellular mechanisms involved in immune response. The study highlights that microplastic-immune interactions may contribute to chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation, pointing to a need for standardized research frameworks.
Immunotoxicity of microplastics in fish
This review examines how microplastics damage the immune systems of fish, from harming their gills and organs to disrupting immune cell signaling and gene expression. Over time, microplastic exposure weakens fish immunity by killing immune cells and reducing their ability to fight off infections, with implications for the broader food chain that connects aquatic life to human diets.
Detrimental effects of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) on platelet and neutrophil immunity: Recent findings and emerging insights
Researchers reviewed how micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) harm the immune system, finding that tiny plastic particles can trigger dangerous inflammation in platelets and neutrophils — immune cells that control clotting and infection defense. These effects could disrupt normal blood vessel function and immune balance, though the exact mechanisms by which cells take up MNPs remain poorly understood.
Micro- and Nanoplastics and the Immune System: Mechanistic Insights and Future Directions
This review synthesizes experimental evidence on how micro- and nanoplastics disrupt immune system function, documenting effects on macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, and T and B cells across multiple organs including the placenta, lungs, blood, and brain. The authors identify key mechanistic pathways and call for standardized exposure studies to clarify real-world health risks.
Sorption, uptake, trophic transfer and immunotoxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics in the aquatic environment
This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics are sorbed, taken up by organisms, transferred through food webs, and how they affect immune function in aquatic species. Researchers synthesize evidence showing these particles can accumulate across trophic levels and trigger immunotoxic effects, with implications for both wildlife and human health.
Evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies on the potential health repercussions of micro- and nanoplastics
This review synthesizes evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies on the potential health effects of micro- and nanoplastics. Researchers found that studies have documented plastic particle absorption by cells, immune responses, and effects on multiple organ systems, though the study notes that more research is needed to fully characterize the health implications for humans.
Physiological impact of secondary nanoplastics on aquatic inhabitants in special reference to immunotoxicity
This review examines how nanoplastics affect the immune systems and other vital organs of aquatic organisms like fish, mussels, and shrimp. Researchers found that nanoplastics can suppress immune function, disrupt digestion, impair reproduction, and cause damage to nervous and respiratory systems. The findings highlight that these tiny plastic particles pose a serious and wide-ranging threat to the health of marine and freshwater species.
Immune and inflammatory responses of human macrophages, dendritic cells, and T-cells in presence of micro- and nanoplastic of different types and sizes
Scientists tested how different types and sizes of micro- and nanoplastics affect key human immune cells, including macrophages, dendritic cells, and T-cells. Smaller particles and those with amino surface modifications triggered the strongest immune responses, including increased inflammation markers and changes in immune cell activation. These findings suggest that inhaled or ingested micro- and nanoplastics could disrupt the human immune system, potentially contributing to chronic inflammation.
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.
The Impact of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Human Health: A Follow-Up Study Focusing on Endocrine, Nervous, and Immune Systems
This review examines evidence for microplastic and nanoplastic impacts on the endocrine, nervous, and immune systems, documenting how particles detected in human organs can disrupt hormone signaling, induce neuroinflammation, and alter immune function.
The potential effects of microplastics on human health: What is known and what is unknown
This review summarizes what is currently known about how microplastics might affect human health, noting that while contamination is widespread in food, water, and air, direct evidence of harm in humans is still limited. Studies in animals and cell cultures suggest microplastics could trigger immune responses, cause inflammation, and affect reproduction and development. The authors call for more rigorous clinical studies to determine whether the levels of microplastics that people actually encounter pose real health risks.
The Environmental and Health Implications of Microplastics on Human and Aquatic Life
This review summarizes the harmful effects of microplastics on both aquatic ecosystems and human health, covering physical injury, chemical toxicity, and immune disruption in marine organisms. Researchers found that microplastics can accumulate through the food chain and potentially affect human health through seafood consumption and other exposure routes. The study highlights the urgent need for policy interventions to reduce plastic pollution at its source.
Microplastic Pollution as a Driver of Immune Dysregulation in Marine Mammal Populations
This review examines how microplastic pollution drives immune dysregulation in marine mammals, discussing how bioaccumulated MPs impair immune cell function, promote inflammation, and may compromise disease resistance in apex marine predators already stressed by other environmental pressures.
Association between Microorganisms and Microplastics: How Does It Change the Host–Pathogen Interaction and Subsequent Immune Response?
This review explores how microplastics act as surfaces where bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms can attach and change their properties. When germs hitchhike on microplastic particles, their physical and chemical traits can shift, potentially tricking or overwhelming the immune system in new ways. The findings suggest that microplastic-associated pathogens could pose unexpected risks to human health by triggering abnormal immune responses.