Tea bags as hidden source of micro- and nanoplastics: a systematic review for food safety

CONCLUSION: This systematic review confirms that tea bags, particularly those containing plastics, are a notable source of MNPs release into beverages and environment. While considerable quantities of MNPs are released, future systematic efforts should highlight developing and implementing standardized detection methodologies to improve the reliability of findings, alongside focused investigations into the biological and toxicological effects of MNPs and human health risk assessment….

Respiratory risks of microplastics and nanoplastics: Where? What? How?

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are pervasive and persistent environmental pollutants raising growing concerns regarding their potential hazards to human respiratory health. This review systematically summarizes current epidemiological evidence and experimental findings concerning the respiratory toxicity of MPs and NPs. Exposure to these particles is associated with various pulmonary disorders, including pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and other pathological…

On the background of plastics nanoparticles in our research

We must recognize that plastics likely constitute a pervasive background in many environments. Beyond their previously documented risks to ecosystems and human health, plastics may also exert unintended influences on laboratory experiments, potentially distorting experimental outcomes. Here, we demonstrate that ultrasound treatment of commonly used laboratory test tubes releases nanoplastics into ultrapure water, reaching concentrations of up to 1-2 × 10^(10) particles mL^(-1) during water bath…

A Scoping Review of Microplastic Contamination in Infant Foods: Exposure Pathways and Implications for Nutrition and Health of Children

Microplastics (MPs) in the environment pose a significant threat to human health, particularly for vulnerable populations like infants. Over the past decades microplastics have infiltrated food systems, air, water, and consumer products, leading to widespread human exposure. Infant foods, including formula and complementary foods, may be contaminated with MPs during processing or packaging or through environmental pollutants. This scoping review was aimed to explore the extent of MP…

Dose- and size-dependent effects of microplastics in a simplified mast-cell model of inflammation

Micro- and nanoplastics have been recognized to pose potential threat for human environment and health. Plastic particles of different, sizes, forms and composition have already been detected in human tissue, but little information is available so far on how particle numbers are relating to cellular effects in dependence of size. We here set out to utilize a mast-cell/basophilic cell model to investigate the role of different polystyrene bead numbers and sizes on mast-cells under conditions that…

Curcumin attenuates nanoparticle-induced renal injury <em>via</em> the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Curcumin attenuates nanoparticle-induced renal injury via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) primarily originate from nanoscale fragments formed through weathering, mechanical abrasion, and biodegradation of polystyrene plastics under natural conditions. Exposure to PS-NPs endangers human health, so exploring curcumin’s (Cur) nephroprotective effects against PS-NPs-induced injury is crucial. This research integrated network pharmacology with in vitro and in vivo assays and conducted validation using the PI3K inhibitor LY294002. Experimental results…

Spectroscopic studies on polystyrene nanoparticle-induced changes in the structure and properties of human serum albumin

Nanoplastics are considered a potential threat to human health and the environment due to their persistence and ubiquity. Upon entrance into the biological systems, nanoplastics can interact with proteins, forming “protein corona”. In this study, the interactions of polystyrene nanoparticles (PSNPs) with human serum albumin (HSA) were investigated by multiple spectroscopic techniques. UV-Vis spectroscopic and spectrofluorimetric studies demonstrated that PSNPs formed a spontaneous ground-state…

Warning: Microplastics Are No Longer Just an Environmental Issue

The Growing Concern About Plastic Exposure Inside the Human Body

For years, plastic pollution was treated mostly as an environmental problem—something floating in oceans, washing onto beaches, or collecting in landfills.

That understanding has changed dramatically.

Researchers are now finding microscopic plastic particles not only in the environment, but inside the human body itself.

Microplastics and nanoplastics have been detected in drinking water, food, household dust, blood, lungs, reproductive tissues, and even human organs. While scientists are still studying the full long-term impact of this exposure, one thing is becoming increasingly clear:

Modern life has created constant contact with plastic particles that most people never see and rarely think about.

Metal-phenolic network-assisted electrochemical selective tracking of polystyrene nanoplastic particles in drinking water

Nanoplastics (NPLs) are emerging contaminants of growing concern due to their persistence, bioavailability, and potential risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health. Yet, their detection remains challenging even in bottled drinking water due to low cost, selectivity, and sensitivity. Herein, we report a mechanism-driven electrochemical sensing strategy for polystyrene nanoplastics (PS NPLs) based on the formation of a metal-phenolic network (MPN). Tannic acid (TA) exhibits strong and selective…

Micro- and Nanoplastics in the Human Brain: Mechanistic Plausibility, Translational Challenges, and Links to Neurological Disease Trends

The exponential growth in plastic production since the mid-twentieth century has led to the pervasive presence of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) across ecosystems and human exposure pathways, coinciding with a rising global burden of neurological disorders. Increasing evidence demonstrates that MNPs are not confined to peripheral tissues but can accumulate even in the human brain, raising concerns about their potential contribution to neurological disease. This structured review synthesizes…