Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

A single oral exposure to polyethylene terephthalate microplastics causes mild metabolic and gastrointestinal disruption: dose and sex determinants

Researchers gave male and female rats a single oral dose of PET microplastics derived from cryomilled nurdles and monitored metabolic rate, gene expression, and blood biomarkers for 18 hours, finding sex- and dose-dependent effects including decreased metabolic rate, altered duodenal gene expression in males, and elevated LDL in females, suggesting mild but measurable systemic disruption.

2026 Figshare
Article Tier 2

A single oral exposure to polyethylene terephthalate microplastics causes mild metabolic and gastrointestinal disruption: dose and sex determinants

Researchers gave male and female rats a single oral dose of PET microplastics at 5 or 50 mg/kg and monitored metabolic rate, respiratory exchange ratio, and tissue gene expression for 18 hours, finding sex- and dose-dependent disruptions including decreased metabolic rate, altered duodenal gene expression in males, and increased serum LDL in females, suggesting mild but measurable metabolic and gastrointestinal effects.

2026 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Acute Toxicity Assessment of Orally Administered Microplastic Particles in Adult Male Wistar Rats

Researchers gave adult male rats a single oral dose of microplastics made from PET water bottles and found that even this one-time exposure altered markers of liver, heart, and kidney function. Higher doses also reduced food intake and increased signs of oxidative stress, which is cell damage caused by harmful molecules. This study suggests that even brief microplastic exposure could trigger early changes in organ function, raising questions about the cumulative effect of daily human exposure through food and water.

2024 Toxics 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Organ-specific accumulation and toxicity analysis of orally administered polyethylene terephthalate microplastics

When mice were fed tiny PET plastic particles (the kind found in water bottles and food containers), the particles accumulated mainly in the lungs and caused inflammatory damage at higher doses. The study found that male mice were more sensitive than females, and the results highlight that microplastics swallowed through food and drink can travel to and harm organs beyond the digestive system.

2025 Scientific Reports 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Dose‐Dependent Toxicological Effects of Polyvinyl Chloride and Polystyrene Microplastics on Wistar Albino Rats

Researchers fed rats PVC and polystyrene microplastics at different doses for eight weeks and observed significant changes including weight loss, elevated blood glucose, increased cholesterol and liver enzymes, and signs of oxidative stress. The study suggests that oral microplastic exposure at these levels can cause dose-dependent toxicological effects across multiple organ systems in mammals.

2026 Journal of Applied Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Polyethylene terephthalate microplastics affect gut microbiota distribution and intestinal damage in mice

Mice exposed to PET microplastics, the type commonly found in plastic bottles, developed intestinal inflammation, changes in gut bacteria, and signs of a weakened gut barrier. Even at relatively low doses, the microplastics increased liver stress markers and disrupted the protective mucus layer in the colon, suggesting that everyday PET plastic exposure could contribute to digestive health problems.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 14 citations
Article Tier 2

In vivo test of acute exposure of polyethylene microplastics on kidney and liver of Rattus norvegicus Wistar strain rats

Researchers exposed male rats to a single dose of polyethylene microplastics and monitored them for 14 days, finding significant changes in body weight, elevated markers of kidney and liver stress in blood tests, and visible tissue abnormalities under microscopy. The results indicate that even short-term, high-dose microplastic exposure can cause measurable organ damage in mammals.

2024 Ecological Engineering & Environmental Technology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Exposure Impairs Weight Gain, Reproduction, Blood Glucose Levels, and Organ Health in Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Rats orally exposed to microplastic solutions at 1–10% concentrations over 28 days showed dose-dependent impairment of weight gain, reproductive function, blood glucose regulation, and organ health compared to controls—providing mammalian in vivo evidence that microplastic ingestion causes systemic physiological harm.

2025 Journal of Experimental and Laboratory Medicine.
Article Tier 2

The Effect of Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics on the Growth of Mice

Mice were fed diets containing 0, 300, or 600 ug PET microplastics for an experimental period to examine effects on body weight, feces weight, and feed consumption. Food contaminated with microplastics altered growth metrics compared to controls, raising concerns about dietary microplastic exposure effects on mammalian health.

2024 BIO Web of Conferences 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Sex-specific gene expression alterations in response to ingested PVC microplastics in Wistar rats

Researchers investigated sex-specific differences in gene expression changes triggered by PVC microplastic ingestion, examining whether males and females show distinct molecular responses to the same plastic exposure. Sex-specific gene expression patterns were identified, suggesting that microplastic toxicity may manifest differently in males and females with implications for health risk assessment.

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

Sex-specific gene expression alterations in response to ingested PVC microplastics in Wistar rats

Researchers examined sex-specific differences in gene expression changes in mice exposed to PVC microplastics via ingestion, finding that male and female animals responded differently at the molecular level. The sex-specific patterns suggest that biological sex may be an important variable in microplastic health risk assessments.

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

Early Physiological and Biochemical Responses to Short-Term Oral Exposure to Microplastic Particles in Male Wistar Rats

Scientists fed rats tiny plastic particles from water bottles and found changes in their blood chemistry and drinking habits within just 24 hours, even though the rats appeared healthy on the outside. This study suggests that microplastics—which people consume daily through food and drinks—might start affecting our bodies much faster than previously thought. The research highlights the need to better understand these immediate effects, as they could lead to bigger health problems over time.

2026 Microplastics
Article Tier 2

Oral exposure to polyethylene microplastics of adult male mice fed a normal or western-style diet: impact on gut and gut-liver axis homeostasis

Researchers orally exposed adult male mice to polyethylene microplastics under both normal and high-fat diets, assessing effects on the gastrointestinal tract. The study found that diet influences microplastic-induced gut changes, with greater effects observed in animals fed a western-style high-fat diet.

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

Repeated-oral dose toxicity of polyethylene microplastics and the possible implications on reproduction and development of the next generation

Researchers administered polyethylene microplastics to mice by oral gavage for 90 days and observed significant effects including reduced body weight gain, increased neutrophil counts, and immune system changes. Microplastic-like material persisted in stomach tissue, and immune markers were altered in treated animals. A follow-up reproductive study found that microplastic exposure affected the number of live births, sex ratio of pups, and offspring immune cell populations, suggesting the need for further reproductive toxicity testing.

2020 Toxicology Letters 280 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of particulate microplastics generated from polyethylene terephthalate on gut pathology and immune microenvironments

Researchers generated particulate microplastics from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and investigated their impact on gut health using mouse models, histological examinations, and multi-omics analysis. The study found that while chronic low-dose PET microplastic exposure did not cause visible intestinal damage, it did alter the gut immune microenvironment and microbiota composition, suggesting subtle but measurable biological effects.

2023 iScience 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Reproductive and metabolic toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics in adult female Wistar rats: a mechanistic study

Researchers gave female rats polystyrene microplastics orally for 45 days and found disruptions to both metabolic and reproductive hormone levels, including increased cholesterol, insulin resistance, and altered sex hormones. The microplastics also caused liver fibrosis and elevated inflammatory markers. The study suggests that chronic microplastic exposure may contribute to metabolic and endocrine disruption in mammals.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects induced by polyethylene microplastics oral exposure on colon mucin release, inflammation, gut microflora composition and metabolism in mice

Researchers fed mice polyethylene microplastics for 30 days and found that even low doses reduced protective mucus in the colon, altered inflammation markers, and shifted the composition of gut bacteria. The microplastics increased the ratio of Bacteroides to Firmicutes bacteria and affected metabolic pathways in the gut microbiome. The study suggests that oral microplastic exposure may disrupt intestinal health by modifying the gut microbial community and its metabolism.

2021 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 238 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Liver Function Through SGOT and SGPT Quantification in Rats Administered Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics

Researchers administered PET microplastics orally to white rats at doses of 0.4–1.0 mg/day and measured SGOT and SGPT liver enzyme levels, finding dose-dependent increases in both transaminases indicating hepatotoxicity even at low exposure levels.

2025 Journal of Medical Laboratory in Infectious and Degenerative Diseases
Article Tier 2

Preliminary study of polyethylene microplastics disrupting energy Metabolism, redox Balance, and prefrontal cortex structure in Wistar rats

Researchers examined the neurotoxic effects of polyethylene microplastics on the prefrontal cortex of rats over a 28-day oral exposure period. The study found that microplastic exposure disrupted energy metabolism, impaired mitochondrial redox balance, and triggered inflammatory responses in brain tissue, suggesting that microplastics may pose risks to neurological function.

2026 Scientific Reports
Article Tier 2

Renal and Hepatotoxic Effects of Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics in Chronically Exposed Albino Rats

Researchers exposed albino rats to different doses of PET microplastics for 90 days and measured kidney and liver function markers. They found that chronic exposure led to significant changes in serum urea, creatinine, and liver enzymes, suggesting potential kidney and liver damage at higher doses. The study also found that water stored in PET containers exposed to sunlight showed similar toxic effects, raising concerns about everyday plastic container use.

2026 Asian Journal of Research in Biochemistry
Article Tier 2

Intake of polyamide microplastics affects the behavior and metabolism of Drosophila

Researchers found that exposure to polyamide microplastics altered feeding behaviour, reduced triglyceride and protein levels, and disrupted metabolism in Drosophila, with effects differing between sexes and increasing in severity at higher microplastic concentrations.

2022 Chemosphere 24 citations
Article Tier 2

In Vivo Toxicity and Pharmacokinetics of Polytetrafluoroethylene Microplastics in ICR Mice

Researchers investigated the in vivo toxicity and pharmacokinetics of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) microplastics in mice, finding that these particles accumulated in organs and caused dose-dependent inflammatory responses and oxidative stress.

2022 Polymers 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential Impact Microplastic Polyethylene Terephthalate on Mice

Researchers studied how polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics affect mice when ingested, tracking where the particles end up in the body. They found that microplastics accumulated in various organs and caused measurable biological effects. The study adds to growing evidence that common plastic types found in food packaging may pose health risks when consumed.

2024 Sarhad Journal of Agriculture 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Nano‐plastics disrupt systemic metabolism by remodeling the bile acid–microbiota axis and driving hepatic–intestinal dysfunction

Mice were exposed to polyethylene terephthalate nanoparticles, and researchers used histopathology, metabolomics, and metagenomics to track downstream effects. Nanoplastic ingestion caused severe metabolic disruption—including weight loss, organ atrophy, and liver-intestinal dysfunction—by remodeling the bile acid–gut microbiota axis.

2025 iMeta