Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Mitochondria as a target of micro- and nanoplastic toxicity

This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics damage mitochondria, the energy-producing structures inside our cells. Research shows these tiny plastic particles can cross biological barriers, enter cells, and disrupt mitochondrial function by triggering oxidative stress and altering energy production. Since mitochondrial damage is linked to diseases like cancer, diabetes, and neurodegeneration, this represents a key concern for human health.

2024 Cambridge Prisms Plastics 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Mitochondria as a target of micro- and nanoplastic toxicity

This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics damage mitochondria, the energy-producing structures inside cells. Studies show that plastic particles can disrupt energy production, cause harmful oxidative stress, and interfere with the cell's ability to repair or recycle damaged mitochondria. Since mitochondrial damage is linked to many chronic diseases including heart disease, neurodegeneration, and diabetes, this helps explain why microplastic exposure may have widespread health effects.

2025 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics/nanoplastics contribute to aging and age-related diseases: Mitochondrial dysfunction as a crucial role

This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics may contribute to aging and age-related conditions by damaging mitochondria, the energy-producing structures inside cells. Researchers describe how these tiny plastic particles enter the body through food, water, and air, and accumulate in various organs where they can disrupt normal mitochondrial function. The study suggests that microplastic-driven mitochondrial damage could be an underappreciated factor in the aging process and related health decline.

2025 Food and Chemical Toxicology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental nanoplastics induce mitochondrial dysfunction: A review of cellular mechanisms and associated diseases

This review summarizes how nanoplastics, which are small enough to enter individual cells, damage mitochondria (the energy-producing structures inside cells) by disrupting their shape, function, and ability to produce energy. This mitochondrial damage has been linked to a range of diseases including neurodegeneration, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and reproductive problems. The findings help explain why nanoplastic exposure may contribute to multiple chronic health conditions through a common cellular mechanism.

2025 Environmental Pollution 8 citations
Article Tier 2

The Impact of Micro-Nanoplastics on Mitochondria in the Context of Diet and Diet-Related Diseases

This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics may worsen diet-related diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes by damaging mitochondria, the energy-producing structures inside cells. Studies suggest that microplastic exposure combined with unhealthy diets can amplify metabolic problems like insulin resistance and high blood sugar. The findings point to mitochondrial damage as a key link between microplastic exposure and the growing epidemic of metabolic diseases.

2025 Stresses 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing micro and nanoplastics toxicity using rodent models: Investigating potential mitochondrial implications

This review examines recent rodent studies investigating how micro- and nanoplastics affect cellular health, with a focus on potential mitochondrial impacts. Researchers found that while no study has directly targeted mitochondrial effects, several reported molecular and biochemical changes consistent with disrupted mitochondrial function, including oxidative stress. The study suggests that mitochondria may be an important but understudied target of micro- and nanoplastic toxicity.

2023 Toxicology 11 citations
Review Tier 2

Influence of Micro- and Nanoplastics on Mitochondrial Function in the Cardiovascular System: A Review of the Current Literature

This review examined the limited but growing research on how micro- and nanoplastics may affect mitochondrial function in the cardiovascular system. Researchers noted that these plastic particles can trigger oxidative stress and disrupt normal mitochondrial processes, which are critical for heart and blood vessel health. The study highlights the need for more comprehensive research given the rising levels of plastic particle contamination and the importance of mitochondrial health in preventing cardiovascular problems.

2024 Physiological Research 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Author comment: Mitochondria as a target of micro- and nanoplastic toxicity — R0/PR1

This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics disrupt the function of mitochondria — the cell's energy-producing organelles — by triggering oxidative stress, altering membrane potential, and interfering with cell signaling. Because mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to neurodegenerative disease, cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions, this work raises concern that microplastic exposure could contribute to or worsen these diseases. The authors call for more targeted research into how plastic particles interact with cellular energy systems.

2023
Article Tier 2

Author comment: Mitochondria as a target of micro- and nanoplastic toxicity — R1/PR4

This review details how micro- and nanoplastics disrupt mitochondria — the energy-producing structures inside cells — by generating reactive oxygen species, altering membrane potential, and interfering with the quality-control processes cells use to maintain healthy mitochondria. Because mitochondrial dysfunction is a common driver of neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, these findings suggest a plausible cellular mechanism linking plastic particle exposure to serious chronic illness. The review calls for more research into mitochondria as a key target of plastic toxicity.

2023
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics and Human Health: Hazard Identification and Biointerface

This review covers what we know about nanoplastics and their potential effects on human health, including how they enter the body and what happens when they get inside cells. Nanoplastics can penetrate cell membranes and damage internal structures like mitochondria, which are responsible for producing energy in cells. The review also discusses strategies to reduce nanoplastic levels in the environment to protect human health.

2022 Nanomaterials 233 citations
Article Tier 2

The Mitochondrial Battleground: A Review of Microplastic-Induced Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Pathways in Human Health

This review synthesizes research on how microplastics damage mitochondria through oxidative stress and inflammation across aquatic, terrestrial, and mammalian systems. Researchers found that microplastics generate reactive oxygen species that disrupt mitochondrial function, with smaller and aged particles causing greater toxicity, while inflammatory signaling creates a feedback loop that worsens cellular damage.

2026 Microplastics
Article Tier 2

Metabolomics Reveal Nanoplastic-Induced Mitochondrial Damage in Human Liver and Lung Cells

Researchers exposed normal human liver and lung cells to 80-nanometer plastic particles and found that the nanoplastics damaged mitochondria, the energy-producing structures inside cells, without causing widespread cell death. Using metabolomics analysis, they identified specific disruptions to energy metabolism and lipid processing pathways in both cell types. This study reveals a subtle but important way that nanoplastics could impair organ function in humans by disrupting cellular energy production.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 333 citations
Article Tier 2

Recommendation: Mitochondria as a target of micro- and nanoplastic toxicity — R0/PR2

This review focuses on mitochondria as a key target of micro- and nanoplastic toxicity, summarizing evidence that MPs and NPs trigger oxidative stress, disrupt mitochondrial membrane potential, alter fusion/fission dynamics, and activate mitophagy. Because mitochondrial dysfunction underlies neurodegenerative disease, diabetes, and cancer, this mechanistic framework helps explain why microplastic exposure may contribute to a wide range of serious human health conditions.

2023
Article Tier 2

Micro- and nanoplastic-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and organelle miscommunication: A toxicological perspective

This review examined how micro- and nanoplastics disrupt mitochondrial function and inter-organelle communication in cells. The evidence indicates that these particles cause oxidative stress, calcium dysregulation, impaired energy production, and activation of stress responses including autophagy and cell death, with cascading effects on lysosomes, the endoplasmic reticulum, and nuclear function.

2025 Toxicology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Decision: Mitochondria as a target of micro- and nanoplastic toxicity — R0/PR3

Microplastics and nanoplastics can enter human cells and directly damage mitochondria — the organelles that power every cell — by triggering oxidative stress, disrupting energy production, and activating cell death pathways. Because mitochondrial dysfunction underlies diseases ranging from neurodegeneration to cancer and diabetes, this review argues that mitochondrial harm should be treated as a central mechanism linking plastic exposure to chronic disease risk.

2023
Article Tier 2

Micro/nanoplastics and human health: A review of the evidence, consequences, and toxicity assessment

This review summarizes evidence that micro and nanoplastics have been found in multiple human organs and body fluids, where they can alter cell shape, damage mitochondria, reduce cell survival, and cause oxidative stress. The health effects depend heavily on the size, shape, and chemical makeup of the particles, with smaller nanoplastics generally posing the greatest risk because they penetrate deeper into tissues. The review provides a framework for assessing how dangerous different types of plastic particles are to human health.

2025 Food and Chemical Toxicology 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Decision: Mitochondria as a target of micro- and nanoplastic toxicity — R2/PR9

This review summarizes evidence on how microplastics and nanoplastics target mitochondria in cells, disrupting energy production, triggering oxidative stress, altering mitochondrial dynamics and membrane potential, and potentially contributing to chronic disease development.

2024
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics target electron transport chain complexes in brain mitochondria

Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on mitochondrial function in rat brain tissue. They found that nanoplastic exposure significantly impaired the electron transport chain, specifically disrupting electron flow between respiratory complexes I-III and II-III in both synaptic and non-synaptic mitochondria. The findings reveal a potential mechanism by which nanoplastics could contribute to brain energy metabolism deficits and neurotoxicity.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Plastics 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Recommendation: Mitochondria as a target of micro- and nanoplastic toxicity — R2/PR8

This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics target mitochondria in cells, disrupting energy production, triggering oxidative stress, altering membrane potential and mitochondrial dynamics, and potentially contributing to neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and metabolic disease development.

2024
Article Tier 2

Mitochondrial stress response in lung cells triggered by the inhaled nanoplastics

This review focuses on how inhaled nanoplastic particles affect mitochondrial function in lung cells, including the activation of stress responses, disruption of energy production, and triggering of cell death pathways. Researchers found that because of their extremely small size, nanoplastics can penetrate deep into lung tissue and interact directly with cellular components in ways larger particles cannot. The study highlights the lungs as a particularly vulnerable site for nanoplastic-related health effects.

2025 Archives of Toxicology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics Penetrate Human Bronchial Smooth Muscle and Small Airway Epithelial Cells and Affect Mitochondrial Metabolism

When human lung cells were exposed to 25 and 50 nanometer polystyrene nanoplastics in the lab, the particles penetrated both airway lining cells and the smooth muscle cells underneath, including cells from asthmatic donors. The nanoplastics disrupted the cells' energy-producing mitochondria, impairing both normal oxygen-based metabolism and backup energy pathways -- demonstrating a direct mechanism by which inhaled nanoplastics could harm respiratory health.

2024 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Cellular Distribution of Polystyrene Nanoplastics from Food Chain and Their Effects on Mitochondrial Quality in H9C2 Cells

Researchers investigated the cellular distribution of polystyrene nanoplastics entering via the food chain and examined their effects on mitochondrial quality in H9C2 cardiac cells, assessing how nanoplastic accumulation disrupts mitochondrial function.

2024 Taipei Medical University Repository
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics exposure-induced mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to disrupted stem cell differentiation in human cerebral organoids

Using lab-grown human brain organoids (miniature brain models), researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics damaged mitochondria (the energy-producing structures in cells), leading to increased cell death and disrupted development of brain stem cells. These findings suggest that nanoplastic exposure could interfere with how brain cells develop and function, raising concerns about the neurological effects of environmental plastic pollution on humans.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) micro- and nanoplastic particles affect the mitochondrial efficiency of human brain vascular pericytes without inducing oxidative stress

Researchers exposed human brain blood vessel cells to PET plastic particles (the same plastic used in water bottles) at micro and nano sizes. After three days, the cells showed reduced energy production in their mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell, but recovered by six days. While no oxidative stress or cell death was observed, the temporary disruption of brain cell energy production raises questions about what repeated or chronic exposure might do.

2024 NanoImpact 21 citations