Papers

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Article Tier 2

The nephrotoxic potential of polystyrene microplastics at realistic environmental concentrations

Researchers tested polystyrene microplastics on human kidney cells at concentrations reflecting real-world environmental levels. They found that the particles attached to and were engulfed by the cells, triggering oxidative stress and inflammatory responses that reduced cell survival. The findings suggest that even realistic low-level microplastic exposure may pose risks to kidney health.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 119 citations
Article Tier 2

The Kidney-Related Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics on Human Kidney Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cells HK-2 and Male C57BL/6 Mice

This study found that polystyrene microplastics caused damage to human kidney cells in the lab and accumulated in the kidneys of mice. The microplastics triggered mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and a cellular stress response called autophagy in kidney tissue. These results suggest that long-term microplastic exposure could be a risk factor for kidney disease.

2021 Environmental Health Perspectives 326 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure of Human Lung Cells to Polystyrene Microplastics Significantly Retards Cell Proliferation and Triggers Morphological Changes

When human lung cells were exposed to polystyrene microplastics in the lab, cell growth slowed dramatically and their shape changed noticeably, even though the cells did not die outright. The 1-micrometer particles were taken up inside the cells, suggesting that inhaled microplastics could physically enter lung tissue. This is the first study to show that airborne microplastics can simultaneously slow human cell growth and alter cell structure, raising concerns about long-term respiratory health effects.

2021 Chemical Research in Toxicology 263 citations
Article Tier 2

The potential effects of microplastic pollution on human digestive tract cells

Researchers tested polystyrene particles of four different sizes on human colon and small intestine cells to assess the potential effects of microplastic ingestion. They found that the smallest nanoscale particles were more readily taken up by cells and caused greater reductions in cell viability and increased oxidative stress. The study suggests that smaller plastic particles may pose a greater risk to the human digestive tract than larger ones.

2021 Chemosphere 143 citations
Article Tier 2

Adverse effect of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) on tube formation and viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Researchers tested the effects of polystyrene microplastics on human blood vessel cells grown in the laboratory and found that the particles reduced cell survival and inhibited the formation of new blood vessel structures. Smaller microplastics accumulated inside the cells more readily and triggered cell death through autophagy and necrosis. The study suggests that microplastics entering the bloodstream could potentially interfere with normal vascular function.

2021 Food and Chemical Toxicology 131 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure of microplastic at levels relevant for human health : cytotoxicity and cellular localization of polystyrene microparticles in four human cell lines

Researchers tested the cytotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics on four human cell lines at concentrations relevant to real-world human exposure from food, water, and packaging. At environmentally realistic doses, microplastics were taken up by cells but did not cause significant toxicity, though higher concentrations did produce cell damage, suggesting that current exposure levels may be near a threshold of concern.

2020 Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University)
Article Tier 2

The effects of polystyrene microplastics on human intestinal cells health and function

This study examined how polystyrene microplastics affect normal and cancer intestinal cells, addressing a gap left by previous research that used only cancer cell lines and pristine plastics. The work evaluated microplastic toxicity under more realistic conditions including digestive system biotransformation, assessing effects on nutrient uptake and cellular function.

2022 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics disrupt kidney organoid development via oxidative stress and Bcl-2/Bax/caspase pathway

Researchers used lab-grown kidney organoids made from human stem cells to study how polystyrene microplastics affect kidney development. The microplastics triggered oxidative stress and activated cell death pathways, disrupting the formation of key kidney structures. This study provides direct evidence that microplastic exposure could interfere with human organ development, which is especially concerning for fetuses and young children.

2025 Chemico-Biological Interactions 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Cytotoxic effect of polystyrene nanoplastics in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and normal rat kidney cells (NRK52E)

Researchers tested how polystyrene nanoplastics affect human blood vessel cells and rat kidney cells in the lab. They found that nanoplastic exposure caused oxidative stress and reduced cell survival in both cell types, with effects increasing at higher concentrations. The study adds to growing evidence that nanoplastics can damage mammalian cells, though the implications for whole-body health require further investigation.

2024 Journal of King Saud University - Science 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene micro and nano-particles induce metabolic rewiring in normal human colon cells: A risk factor for human health

Researchers exposed normal human colon cells to polystyrene micro and nanoplastic particles and observed significant metabolic changes in the cells. The study found that these plastic particles altered energy metabolism and cellular pathways in ways that could increase vulnerability to disease. These findings raise concerns that routine ingestion of microplastics through contaminated food may affect normal intestinal cell function in humans.

2022 Chemosphere 93 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of nano- and microplastics on kidney: Physicochemical properties, bioaccumulation, oxidative stress and immunoreaction

Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene nano- and microplastics of varying sizes and tracked their accumulation and effects in the kidneys. They found that the particles changed their physical properties during digestion, accumulated in kidney tissue, and caused oxidative stress and immune responses. The study suggests that plastic particle size plays an important role in determining the extent of kidney-related harm.

2021 Chemosphere 213 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of Polystyrene Microplastics on Tube Formation and Viability of Endothelial Cells

Lab experiments found that polystyrene microplastics impaired the ability of human endothelial cells (which line blood vessels) to form tube-like structures and reduced cell viability at higher concentrations. This is early evidence that microplastics entering the bloodstream may damage vascular cells, with potential implications for cardiovascular health.

2021 Current Developments in Nutrition 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic toxicity and uptake in kidney cells: differential effects of concentration, particle size, and polymer type

Researchers exposed human kidney proximal tubule cells to nanoplastics of different polymer types, sizes, and concentrations to assess short-term toxic effects. They found that polystyrene and PMMA nanoparticles were readily internalized by kidney cells and caused concentration-dependent reductions in cell viability and changes in cell cycle distribution. The study suggests that nanoplastics can directly affect kidney cell function, with toxicity varying by polymer type and particle size.

2026 Cell Biology and Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics induce profound metabolic shift in human cells as revealed by integrated proteomic and metabolomic analysis

Researchers used integrated proteomic and metabolomic analysis to study how polystyrene nanoplastics affect human kidney and liver cell lines. The study quantified changes in thousands of proteins and hundreds of metabolites, revealing that nanoplastic exposure induced a profound metabolic shift in human cells. Evidence indicates that nanoplastics can be internalized by human cells and trigger significant biological changes at the molecular level.

2022 Environment International 64 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics to human embryonic kidney cells and human normal liver cells: Effect of particle size and Pb2+ enrichment

Researchers tested polystyrene nanoplastics on human kidney and liver cells and found that particles smaller than 100 nanometers caused significant cell death, with kidney cells being more vulnerable. When nanoplastics carried lead contamination from water, their toxicity increased further. The study suggests that while nanoplastics alone in drinking water may pose limited risk, their ability to concentrate heavy metals is a serious concern.

2023 Chemosphere 43 citations
Article Tier 2

A new insight of size-dependent plastics particles kinetics with regarding of metabolomics effects in liver and kidney

Researchers developed a comprehensive extraction and detection protocol to track polystyrene particles of three sizes (80 nm, 2 µm, and 20 µm) across multiple organs in exposed animals, finding that smaller particles accumulated more broadly — reaching the brain, liver, spleen, and kidney — while liver and kidney metabolism was disrupted in size-dependent but distinct ways.

2025 Environmental Pollution
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene micro/nanoplastics on liver cells based on particle size, surface functionalization, concentration and exposure period

Researchers systematically studied the effects of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics on human liver cells, varying particle size, surface chemistry, concentration, and exposure duration. They found that smaller particles were internalized more readily and that surface functionalization significantly influenced toxicity, with aminated particles causing the most cell damage. The study suggests that particle characteristics beyond just size play an important role in determining how micro- and nanoplastics affect human cells.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 78 citations
Article Tier 2

Cellular response of THP-1 macrophages to polystyrene microplastics exposure

Researchers exposed human macrophage cells to polystyrene nanoparticles smaller than 450 nanometers and observed significant decreases in cell viability, increased oxidative stress, and DNA damage. The particles also reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and inhibited cell proliferation. The findings suggest that microplastic exposure may impair immune cell function in humans, highlighting potential risks to the immune system.

2022 Toxicology 45 citations
Article Tier 2

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

Researchers evaluated the toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics in two sizes, 80 nanometers and 500 nanometers, on human colorectal cells in laboratory culture. They found that both sizes significantly reduced cell viability, induced cell death, and disrupted the normal cell cycle in a dose-dependent manner. The study provides preliminary evidence that microplastic particles at sizes relevant to human exposure may pose risks to intestinal cell health.

2026 E3S Web of Conferences
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induce biochemical and metabolism changes in human placental explants

Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene microplastics on human placental cells, finding that exposure altered biochemical pathways and metabolic activity. The results suggest that microplastics reaching the placenta can disrupt cellular functions important for fetal development.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induce hepatotoxicity and disrupt lipid metabolism in the liver organoids

Using lab-grown human liver organoids, researchers showed that polystyrene microplastics caused liver cell damage even at concentrations found in the environment. The microplastics disrupted fat metabolism, increased harmful reactive oxygen species, and triggered inflammation in the liver tissue. This study provides early evidence that microplastic exposure could contribute to liver problems like fatty liver disease in humans.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 279 citations
Article Tier 2

Nano-plastics and gastric health: Decoding the cytotoxic mechanisms of polystyrene nano-plastics size

Researchers examined how different sizes of polystyrene nanoplastics affect human stomach cells in the laboratory. They found that smaller nanoplastics were more readily taken up by the cells and caused greater damage, including increased oxidative stress and reduced cell survival. The study suggests that nanoplastic particle size plays a critical role in determining their potential impact on gastrointestinal health.

2023 Environment International 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Size-dependent effects of polystyrene microplastics on cytotoxicity and efflux pump inhibition in human Caco-2 cells

Researchers compared how two sizes of polystyrene microplastics affect human intestinal cells grown in the lab. While both sizes showed low direct toxicity, they disrupted mitochondrial function and inhibited important cellular transport pumps that normally help remove harmful substances from cells. The findings suggest that microplastics in the gut could interfere with how intestinal cells handle drugs and toxins, even at concentrations that do not cause obvious cell damage.

2019 Chemosphere 481 citations
Article Tier 2

Cellular internalization and release of polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics

Scientists studied how polystyrene plastic particles of different sizes enter and exit living cells. They found that particles 50 and 500 nanometers in size can penetrate cell membranes and get taken up through multiple pathways, while 5-micrometer particles are too large to enter cells. This research helps explain why smaller nanoplastics may be more harmful to human health, as they can more easily get inside our cells and accumulate there.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 373 citations