Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Unmasking the Invisible Threat: Biological Impacts and Mechanisms of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Cells

This review summarizes how polystyrene nanoplastics, tiny plastic particles found throughout the environment, damage cells through multiple pathways including oxidative stress, DNA damage, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Nanoplastics can trigger several forms of cell death and disrupt normal cell processes like autophagy (the cell's recycling system). The findings raise concerns about long-term human health effects from chronic exposure to these nearly invisible plastic particles.

2024 Toxics 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Emergence of Nanoplastic in the Environment and Possible Impact on Human Health

This review examines how plastic materials fragment into nanoplastics and potentially accumulate in the environment, with a focus on their possible impacts on human health. Researchers discuss how these tiny particles can enter the human body through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact, and describe how they interact with cells at the molecular level. The study highlights that nanoplastics behave very differently from larger plastics due to their size and surface properties, raising concerns that warrant further investigation.

2019 Environmental Science & Technology 1134 citations
Article Tier 2

Interfacial Interactions between Nanoplastics and Biological Systems: toward an Atomic and Molecular Understanding of Plastics-Driven Biological Dyshomeostasis

This study investigated how nanoplastics interact with biological molecules at the atomic level, finding that polystyrene nanoplastics can destroy the structure of proteins, disrupt cell membranes, and damage DNA. The nanoplastics essentially unfolded a milk protein, punched holes in cell membranes, and broke DNA strands. These findings help explain at a fundamental level how nanoplastics found in human blood, milk, and tissues could cause the inflammation and disease seen in other studies.

2024 ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Nanoplastics on Human Health: A Comprehensive Study

This comprehensive review examines the diverse health effects of nanoplastics, drawing on toxicology, environmental science, and epidemiology to document how these particles interact with human biological systems. The authors conclude that nanoplastics represent a growing public health concern requiring further investigation.

2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology (IJISRT) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Cellular Impact of Micro(nano)plastics on Human Health: A Review.

This review examined how micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) entering the human body through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact affect cells and tissues. It synthesized evidence of oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, and endocrine disruption associated with MNP exposure.

2025 Toxics
Article Tier 2

Impact of microplastics and nanoplastics on human Health: Emerging evidence and future directions

This review summarizes current evidence on how micro- and nanoplastics enter the human body through food, air, and skin contact, and the cellular damage they may cause. While microplastic pollution is a recognized environmental hazard, the authors note that definitive evidence linking plastic particle exposure to specific health outcomes in humans is still limited and more realistic exposure studies are needed.

2025 Emerging contaminants 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics in the Environment: Sources, Fate, Toxicity, Challenges and Mitigation Strategies

This review covers the formation, environmental fate, and health risks of nanoplastics, emphasizing their capacity to penetrate biological barriers and cause oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, and endocrine disruption, alongside current strategies for mitigation.

2025 Asian Journal of Environment & Ecology
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

Cellular interactions with polystyrene nanoplastics—The role of particle size and protein corona

Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics interact with mammalian cells, finding that particle size and the protein corona that forms around particles in biological fluids strongly influence cellular uptake and toxicity. Smaller nanoplastics penetrated cell membranes more readily and caused greater disruption, suggesting that the tiniest plastic particles may pose the greatest biological risk.

2021 Biointerphases 61 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring toxicological pathways of microplastics and nanoplastics: Insights from animal and cellular models

This review examines what animal and cell studies have revealed about how microplastics and nanoplastics cause harm at the molecular level, including promoting inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death. Most research has focused on reproductive toxicity and polystyrene particles, while effects on the gut, brain, and heart remain understudied. The authors note that many experiments use unrealistic concentrations and synthetic particles, making it difficult to apply the results to real-world human exposure.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics: An emerging environmental concern in age-related diseases

This review examines the growing body of evidence linking nanoplastics to aging and age-related conditions. Researchers found that nanoplastics can disrupt key molecular pathways involved in inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular damage that are central to the aging process. The study suggests that chronic nanoplastic exposure may accelerate biological aging, raising concerns about long-term health effects as environmental plastic pollution continues to increase.

2025 Environmental Pollution 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Health Concerning Cellular Toxicity Mechanisms, Exposure Pathways, and Global Mitigation Strategies

This review synthesizes current knowledge on how micro- and nanoplastics cause cellular damage in the human body, covering mechanisms like oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, and disruption of cell signaling pathways. Researchers note that exposure occurs through multiple routes including ingestion and inhalation, allowing particles to reach organs throughout the body. The study highlights significant gaps in understanding long-term and low-dose exposure effects that are most relevant to everyday human contact with these particles.

2025 Life 4 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

A review of potential human health impacts of micro- and nanoplastics exposure

This systematic review summarized 133 studies on how micro- and nanoplastics affect human health based on mammalian research. The evidence points to cell damage, inflammation, gut disruption, and reproductive harm, though most studies focused on polystyrene particles and more research is needed on other common plastic types.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 211 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

Polystyrene nanoparticles induce DNA damage and apoptosis in HeLa cells

Researchers exposed human HeLa cells to polystyrene nanoplastics — particles smaller than 100 nm — and found that even short exposures at low concentrations caused DNA damage, abnormal cell division, and signs of cell death including apoptosis and necrosis. The results suggest nanoplastics can directly damage human cell DNA, raising concerns about the health implications of everyday nanoplastic exposure.

2024 Heliyon 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative evaluation of molecular mechanisms triggered by differently functionalized polystyrene nanoplastics in human colon cell lines

Researchers compared the molecular mechanisms triggered by polystyrene nanoplastics with different surface functionalization in human colon cell lines. The study examined how surface chemistry of nanoplastic particles influences their biological interactions with intestinal cells, contributing to understanding of how nanoplastics may affect the human gastrointestinal system.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Potential lifetime effects caused by cellular uptake of nanoplastics: A review

Researchers reviewed the potential lifetime health effects of nanoplastic uptake at the cellular level, noting that unlike larger micro- and macroplastics, nanoplastics can be absorbed directly by human cells. The study suggests that cellular uptake of nanoplastics may lead to various adverse effects including cytotoxicity, inflammation, and oxidative stress, though research on nanoplastic interactions with human cells is still in its early stages.

2023 Environmental Pollution 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of nanoplastics on thyroid function: Unraveling cellular biokinetics, molecular mechanisms and human risk assessment

Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on thyroid-derived cell lines, finding rapid intracellular uptake, disruption of redox balance, and altered expression of thyroid hormone-related genes and proteins. The findings indicate that nanoplastics can directly disrupt thyroid cell function through oxidative stress and interference with hormone biosynthesis pathways.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Impact of micro-nano plastics in daily life on human health: toxicological evaluation from the perspective of normal tissue cells and organoids

This review found that micro- and nanoplastics are present in nearly all everyday products, including food, drinks, and household items, and can enter the human body through the digestive tract, respiratory system, and body fluids. Lab studies on human cells and organoids show these tiny particles cause measurable cell damage and genetic changes, even at concentrations similar to normal environmental exposure. The findings highlight the need for long-term health monitoring, especially since these particles can transfer from a mother's placenta to her unborn child.

2024 Toxicology Research 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic pollution and its pathophysiological impacts on mammalian cells

This review examines the pathophysiological impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics on mammalian cells, discussing how environmental degradation of larger plastics generates micro- and nano-scale fragments that enter organisms through ingestion, accumulate via trophic transfer, and cause cellular toxicity. The authors synthesize laboratory evidence on MP and NP interactions with mammalian cells including membrane disruption, inflammation, and genotoxicity.

2022 IARJSET
Review Tier 2

A review on microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment: Their occurrence, exposure routes, toxic studies, and potential effects on human health

This review summarizes what is known about how microplastics and nanoplastics enter the human body through food, air, and skin contact, and what they do once inside. Studies on cells and animals show these tiny particles can cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, inflammation, and harm to the immune, digestive, reproductive, and nervous systems. The research makes clear that microplastics are not just an environmental problem but a direct concern for human health.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 379 citations
Article Tier 2

Research progress on the cellular toxicity caused by microplastics and nanoplastics

This review summarizes current research on how microplastics and nanoplastics cause damage at the cellular level. Researchers identified four main ways these particles harm cells: triggering oxidative stress, damaging cell membranes and organelles, causing inflammation, and disrupting DNA. The findings highlight growing evidence that plastic particles small enough to enter cells can interfere with fundamental biological processes.

2023 Journal of Applied Toxicology 50 citations
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

Polystyrene nanoplastics affect transcriptomic and epigenomic signatures of human fibroblasts and derived induced pluripotent stem cells: Implications for human health

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics altered transcriptomic and epigenomic signatures in human fibroblasts and derived induced pluripotent stem cells, demonstrating that plastic particle exposure can cause lasting molecular changes with potential implications for human health.

2022 Environmental Pollution 21 citations