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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Size-dependent toxicity of polystyrene microplastics in lung cells: An in vivo and in vitro study
ClearMicroplastics and nanoplastics, emerging pollutants, increased the risk of pulmonary fibrosis in vivo and in vitro: A comparative evaluation of their potential toxicity effects with different polymers and size
Researchers compared the lung toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics made from polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene in mice and human lung cells. They found that all particle types induced signs of pulmonary fibrosis, inflammation, and tissue remodeling, with polystyrene nanoplastics causing the most severe effects. The study suggests that smaller nanoplastic particles and certain polymer types may pose greater risks to lung health.
Unveiling the Pulmonary Toxicity of Polystyrene Nanoplastics: A Hierarchical Oxidative Stress Mechanism Driving Acute–Subacute Lung Injury
Researchers investigated the pulmonary toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics smaller than 100 nm in lung epithelial cells and macrophages, finding that exposure triggered a hierarchical oxidative stress mechanism that drove acute to subacute lung injury through lipid peroxidation and inflammation.
Toxic effects of nanoplastics with different sizes and surface charges on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in A549 cells and the potential toxicological mechanism
Researchers exposed human lung cells to polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes and surface charges and found they triggered a process called epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, which is associated with the early stages of lung fibrosis. Smaller particles and those with positive surface charges caused the strongest effects, activating oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways. The study suggests that inhaled nanoplastics could contribute to respiratory health risks by promoting tissue scarring in the lungs.
Size-Dependent PulmonaryToxicity and Whole-Body Distributionof Inhaled Micro/Nanoplastic Particles in Male Mice from Chronic Exposure
Researchers used a whole-body inhalation exposure system to chronically expose male mice to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics at environmental concentrations and tracked particle distribution and lung toxicity. Nanoplastics (80 nm) showed greater tissue transport than microplastics (1 µm), with highest accumulation in lungs followed by blood and spleen, and both sizes disrupted oxidative balance and antioxidant defenses.
Bioaccumulation of differently-sized polystyrene nanoplastics by human lung and intestine cells
Researchers examined how human lung and intestine cells take up polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes, finding that smaller particles were internalized in greater numbers but at lower total mass compared to larger ones. When compared on a surface area basis, the uptake rates were similar across sizes, suggesting that surface interactions with cell membranes play a key role. The findings indicate that particle size is an important factor to consider when evaluating the health risks of nanoplastic exposure.
Pulmonary hazards of nanoplastic particles: a study using polystyrene in in vitro models of the alveolar and bronchial epithelium
Lab tests on human lung cell models found that polystyrene nanoplastics did not cause immediate cell death but did interfere with key lung functions like surfactant and mucus production and immune signaling. This means standard toxicity tests may underestimate the real danger of inhaling nanoplastics, and researchers need to look beyond simple cell survival to understand the true health effects on the lungs.
A new discovery of polystyrene microplastics toxicity: The injury difference on bladder epithelium of mice is correlated with the size of exposed particles
Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and examined the resulting damage to bladder epithelial cells. They found that smaller microplastics caused more severe injury, including increased cell death and inflammatory responses, compared to larger particles. The study suggests that the size of microplastic particles is a key factor in determining their toxicity to urinary system tissues.
Exposure to polystyrene microplastics triggers lung injury via targeting toll-like receptor 2 and activation of the NF-κB signal in mice
This mouse study found that inhaling polystyrene microplastics caused serious lung damage, including inflammation, cell death, and scar tissue buildup. Smaller microplastics (1-5 micrometers) caused more harm than larger ones, and the damage worsened with longer exposure. The study identified a specific immune pathway (TLR2/NF-kB) through which inhaled microplastics trigger lung injury, raising concerns about the respiratory effects of airborne microplastics on humans.
Polystyrene microplastic particles: In vitro pulmonary toxicity assessment
Researchers tested the effects of polystyrene microplastics on human lung cells in the laboratory and found that the particles triggered inflammation and oxidative stress. The microplastics also weakened the protective barrier function of lung tissue by depleting key structural proteins. The study suggests that inhaling microplastics may increase the risk of respiratory problems by damaging the lung's natural defenses.
Size-dependent internalization of polystyrene microplastics as a key factor in macrophages and systemic toxicity
Researchers systematically tested how the size of polystyrene microplastics affects their uptake and toxicity in immune cells and mice. Smaller particles (0.5 micrometers) were taken up much more readily by immune cells and caused more damage, including mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death, compared to larger 5-micrometer particles. In living mice, smaller microplastics accumulated more in organs and caused broader changes in blood and metabolic markers, confirming that particle size is a key factor in microplastic toxicity.
Internalization and toxicity: A preliminary study of effects of nanoplastic particles on human lung epithelial cell
Researchers studied the effects of polystyrene nanoplastic particles on human lung cells and found that the particles were internalized by the cells and caused dose-dependent toxicity. The nanoplastics triggered oxidative stress, inflammation, and disrupted normal cell function. The findings suggest that inhaling airborne nanoplastics may pose risks to respiratory health.
Size-Dependent Pulmonary Toxicity and Whole-Body Distribution of Inhaled Micro/Nanoplastic Particles in Male Mice from Chronic Exposure
Researchers exposed mice to airborne micro- and nanoplastic particles through normal breathing over an extended period and found the highest accumulation in the lungs, followed by the blood and spleen. Surprisingly, the larger 1-micrometer microplastics caused more severe lung damage than the smaller 80-nanometer particles, triggering inflammation, cell death, and scarring. These findings highlight that breathing in airborne plastic particles poses real health risks, with particle size playing an important role in the type of damage caused.
Intratracheal Administration of Polystyrene Micro(nano)plastics with a Mixed Particle Size Promote Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats by Activating TGF-β1 Signaling and Destabilizing Mitochondrial Dynamics and Mitophagy in a Dose- and Time-Dependent Manner.
SD rats exposed to mixed polystyrene micro(nano)plastics via intratracheal administration at escalating doses over time developed pulmonary fibrosis and mitochondrial dysfunction, with severity linked to dose. The findings demonstrated a clear biological pathway connecting inhaled microplastic exposure to lung injury.
In vitro evaluation of nanoplastics using human lung epithelial cells, microarray analysis and co-culture model
Researchers tested polystyrene nanoplastics on two types of human lung cells and found that the particles caused cell damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation-related gene changes at relatively low concentrations. Using a co-culture model that mimics the lung's layered structure, they showed that nanoplastics can trigger immune responses even in cells not directly exposed. The study suggests that inhaled nanoplastics may pose respiratory health risks through both direct toxicity and inflammatory signaling.
Biological interactions of polystyrene nanoplastics: Their cytotoxic and immunotoxic effects on the hepatic and enteric systems
Researchers exposed mouse and human liver cells and live mice to polystyrene nanoplastics of five different sizes and found that the smallest particles were most toxic in lab dishes, while medium and large particles caused the most liver damage in living animals. The larger particles triggered immune responses by recruiting inflammatory cells to the liver and intestines, causing tissue damage. This study reveals that nanoplastic size matters in unexpected ways, and that lab tests alone may not predict which particles are most dangerous in the body.
The effect of microplastics on human lung cell lines
Researchers exposed three human lung cell lines—non-tumor WI-38, and tumor A549 and H1299—to polystyrene microspheres of 1.5 µm, 5 µm, and 10 µm diameters at concentrations of 1–1000 µg/mL. All cell lines showed increased proliferation at the highest concentrations and smallest particle sizes, with expression changes in cell cycle regulators AKT1, SMG1, and Caspase-9 suggesting complex size- and concentration-dependent cellular mechanisms.
Evaluation of the pulmonary toxicity of PSNPs using a Transwell-based normal human bronchial epithelial cell culture system
Researchers used a Transwell air-liquid interface cell culture system to assess how polystyrene nanoplastics affect human bronchial epithelial cells, finding that even ultralow, non-cytotoxic doses triggered inflammatory signaling (NF-κB, NLRP3), while higher doses induced apoptosis and autophagy — suggesting nanoplastics pose a pulmonary health risk at ambient exposure levels.
Polystyrene nanoplastics induced lung injury in mice: Insights into lung metabolic disorders
Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene nanoplastics through the airway and found that the particles caused lung inflammation and tissue damage. Using metabolomics analysis, they discovered that the nanoplastics disrupted multiple metabolic pathways in lung tissue, with surface-modified particles causing more severe effects. The study provides evidence that inhaled nanoplastics can alter lung metabolism in ways that may contribute to respiratory health problems.
Polystyrene nanoplastics increase migration in normal lung cells while inducing differential cytotoxicity in lung cancer cells
Researchers exposed normal and cancerous human lung cell lines to polystyrene nanoplastics (50–1000 nm) and found that while normal cells showed increased migration, cancer cells exhibited variable cytotoxicity, highlighting cell-type-specific responses to nanoplastic exposure.
Size- and polymer-dependent toxicity of amorphous environmentally relevant micro- and nanoplastics in human bronchial epithelial cells
This study examined how the size and type of plastic particles affect their toxicity to human lung cells. Researchers tested environmentally relevant micro- and nanoplastics with irregular shapes, rather than the uniform spheres typically used in lab studies, to better mimic real-world exposure. The findings contribute to a growing understanding that particle size and polymer composition both matter when assessing the potential health risks of inhaling airborne plastic particles.
Correlation between cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of polystyrene micro/nanoplastics in HeLa cells: A size-dependent matter
Researchers tested polystyrene particles of various sizes on human cells and found that only the smallest nanoplastics, those under about 25 nanometers in radius, could enter cells and cause toxic effects. Larger microplastic particles did not penetrate the cell membrane and showed no toxicity even at very high concentrations. The study provides a clear explanation for why smaller plastic particles tend to be more harmful, directly linking cell entry to cellular damage.
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.
61 Evaluation of the Toxicity, Alveolar Cell Accumulation and Clearance of PET and PS Nanoplastics in Mouse Lungs
Pharyngeal aspiration of PET and polystyrene nanoplastics in mice triggered immune cell infiltration in lungs, with 50 nm PS nanoplastics causing significantly greater neutrophil recruitment at day 1 and eosinophil recruitment at day 7 compared to 200 nm particles or PET, highlighting size-dependent pulmonary toxicity.
Noxic effects of polystyrene microparticles on murine macrophages and epithelial cells
Polystyrene microparticles induced cytotoxic effects in murine macrophages and intestinal epithelial cells at higher concentrations, triggering cell membrane damage, inflammatory cytokine release, and reduced phagocytic function, with smaller particles generally causing greater harm than larger ones at equivalent mass doses.