Micro- and nanoplastics as emerging disruptors of Leydig cell function: A systematic review of experimental evidence

Micro- and nanoplastics as emerging disruptors of Leydig cell function: A systematic review of experimental evidence

Plastic particles have been detected in human testicular tissue, raising concerns about potential effects on male reproductive health. This systematic review synthesizes experimental evidence from mammalian in vitro and in vivo studies evaluating the effects of MNP exposure on Leydig cell structure and function. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science identified 19 eligible studies. Study selection, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment were performed…
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The link between microplastics and colorectal cancer

The link between microplastics and colorectal cancer

Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPLs) are known to enter the human body and accumulate within different tissues. As MNPLs have been shown to exert toxic effects in vivo, we aimed to evaluate the link between MNPLs and colorectal cancer tumorigenesis. A literature review was conducted, using Ovid MEDLINE and PubMed databases. MeSH terms “colorectal carcinoma” and “microplastic” were the foundations for the search strategy. Forty-one studies were initially identified, of which fourteen were…
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Microplastics in Urinary Calculi: Evidence from Human Urinary Stones

Microplastics in Urinary Calculi: Evidence from Human Urinary Stones

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first evidence of microplastics within human urolithiasis. The consistent detection of common environmental polymers supports the hypothesis that microplastics and nanoplastics may act as nucleation substrates or become entrapped during stone crystallization. Given the rising global prevalence of urolithiasis, these findings implicate environmental plastic exposure as a novel contributor to stone pathogenesis and underscore the importance of investigating…
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Osteoimmunological impacts of micro/nanoplastics: systemic translocation, inflammatory responses, and bone remodeling disruption

Osteoimmunological impacts of micro/nanoplastics: systemic translocation, inflammatory responses, and bone remodeling disruption

Ingested environmental micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) may represent an emerging systemic health concern. Although toxicological research has mainly focused on the gastrointestinal tract, increasing evidence suggests that the highly vascularized bone marrow may also be a relevant site for MNP accumulation. This narrative review proposes a “gut-immune-bone” axis linking intestinal barrier disruption, systemic translocation, and potential deposition within the bone marrow niche. Current…
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Exposure to micro- and nano-plastics: From human internal burden to systems-level health-risk interpretation

Exposure to micro- and nano-plastics: From human internal burden to systems-level health-risk interpretation

Micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) can enter the human body through inhalation, ingestion, contact with consumer products, and iatrogenic routes. The clinical relevance of MNP exposure should be interpreted at three levels: barrier interaction, cellular stress, and system-level disruption, with key mechanisms including oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and chronic inflammation.
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Higher abundance of micro- and nanoplastics in inflammatory tissues from patients with intestinal erosion

Higher abundance of micro- and nanoplastics in inflammatory tissues from patients with intestinal erosion

The detrimental effects of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) on human health have been the subject of intense research in recent years, but there is little data on how MNPs affect intestinal health. Six participants with colonic or terminal ileal erosion were enrolled, and one erosive tissue sample plus one adjacent non-erosive tissue sample were collected from each participant. Pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) was utilized to determine the MNP content of these tissues…
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Microplastics and nanoplastics in humans: exposure pathways, biological mechanisms, and implications for health risk assessment

Microplastics and nanoplastics in humans: exposure pathways, biological mechanisms, and implications for health risk assessment

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are ubiquitous contaminants, but their implications for human internal exposure, biological effects, and health risk assessment remain incompletely defined. Although many reviews summarize environmental occurrence and ecological impacts, fewer integrate human exposure pathways with mechanistic toxicological evidence and safety-relevant uncertainties. This review synthesizes evidence on inhalation, ingestion, and dermal exposure, emphasizing particle…
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Nanoplastics forming micro-sized agglomerates and exacerbating neurotoxicity in Alzheimer’s disease

Nanoplastics forming micro-sized agglomerates and exacerbating neurotoxicity in Alzheimer’s disease

Micro/nanoplastics are quietly infiltrating human bodies through dietary intake, water consumption, and dermal exposure. Here, we assessed the interaction of nanoplastics (NPs) with β-amyloid (Aβ), helping to understand the likely mechanisms of NPs accumulation in brain and potential impacts on Alzheimer’s disease (AD). SH-SY5Y cells served as an in vitro model of AD and were treated with fluorescently labeled NPs (NPf). In in vivo study, 5XFAD mice were fed with environmentally relevant doses…
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Prenatal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics caused testicular development toxicities and relative mechanisms in male offspring mice from embryo to adulthood

Prenatal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics caused testicular development toxicities and relative mechanisms in male offspring mice from embryo to adulthood

Polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) are extensively present in the environment. Population studies have confirmed the presence of micro- and nanoplastics in human blood and placental tissues, and animal experiments found PS-NPs had potential developmental and reproductive toxicity. However, the continuous effects of prenatal PS-NPs exposure on testicular differentiation and development in offspring from embryo to adult are not clear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate potential toxicity of…
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Microplastics, the gut microbiome and ageing: mechanisms and intervention strategies

Microplastics, the gut microbiome and ageing: mechanisms and intervention strategies

As a pervasive global environmental concern, micro- and nanoplastic (MNPs) pollution leads to widespread systemic human exposure via three main routes: oral ingestion, inhalation, and dermal absorption. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that MNPs are strongly associated with ageing and age-related pathologies, including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. Meanwhile, the gut microbiome, an intensely studied regulatory mediator, plays a critical role in modulating human ageing. This…
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