Microplastics as both a driver of genitourinary cancers and a deliverer of treatments

Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are environmental contaminants increasingly detected in human tissues, raising public health concerns. Although evidence is still insufficient to directly link MNPs to genitourinary cancers (GU), this Review examines their potential role in prostate, bladder, and renal cell carcinoma. Proposed mechanisms include chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and endocrine disruption driven by plastic-associated additives. Emerging studies report…

Prenatal and early-life exposure to micro- and nanoplastics and autism-relevant neurodevelopment: An integrated review of human, experimental, and mechanistic evidence

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition with increasing global prevalence. Human brain development is particularly vulnerable to environmental perturbations during prenatal and early life, when exposures can alter cellular organization, tissue development, and neural function. Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are emerging environmental contaminants that are ubiquitous in air, water, and food, raising concern due to their potential for chronic, low-level exposure. Their small size may enable MNPs…

Micro- and nanoplastics in the central nervous system: Transport pathways, neurotoxicity, and implications for brain disorders

Micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) are widely distributed across global ecosystems and have been extensively detected in human tissues, including the brain. The levels of MNPs are highly correlated with the occurrence of various brain disorders, suggesting the potential central nervous system (CNS) toxicity of MNPs. In this review, we summarize the major circuits by which MNPs may transport into and out of the CNS, including blood-brain barrier crossing, nasal-to-brain routes, and glymphatic system…

Biologically inspired solutions to micro- and nanoplastic filtration in wastewater treatment plants

Resulting from the widespread global adoption of plastic products, the ubiquitous contamination by micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) now affects nearly every ecosystem, with aquatic environments serving as a primary sink for a vast portion of this pollution. These particles enter the food web, leading to bioaccumulation and posing a potential threat to ecosystems and human health. Conventional filtration systems exhibit limited efficiency to mitigate the growing threat of small MNPs: paradoxically,…

Communicating Confidence in the Reliability of Micro- and Nanoplastic Identification in Human Health Studies

Accurately quantifying and characterizing human internal exposure to micro- and nanoplastics are critical for assessing potential health risks. However, the detection of these particles in human tissues, fluids, cell systems, and relevant models remains a major analytical challenge. There is an urgent need for robust, selective, sensitive, and high-throughput methods capable of generating reliable quantitative data. Equally essential is the transparent reporting of methodological limitations and…

Formation and Transformation of Micro(nano)plastics: Mechanisms and Environmental Health Implications

Micro-(nano)-plastics (MNPs; <5 mm plastic particles including nanoscale fractions) are increasingly recognized as pervasive environmental pollutants, with risks arising not only from their original emission sources but also from ongoing transformations. This review systematically integrates current evidence on the formation and transformation of MNPs under mechanical, photochemical, thermal, oxidative, and biological processes, highlighting that environmental MNPs are predominantly aged rather…

Capturing nanoplastics through a collagen fibrous membrane with hierarchical functional surfaces

Nanoplastics (NPs) pose a significant threat to ecosystems and human health due to their diminutive size and high potential for bioaccumulation. Most existing membranes for NPs separation, however, are composed of non-biodegradable, petroleum-based polymers that are difficult to recycle. This study introduces the development of an eco-friendly collagen fibrous membrane (CFM) with a hierarchical structure designed for NPs capture, achieved through crosslinking CFM with a polyphenol-Al^(3 +)…

Using simple to more robust in vitro methods based on human pulmonary models to evaluate the acute and subacute toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics derived from 3D printing materials

Mechanical recycling and other processes involved in the end-of-life treatment of 3D-printed plastic polymers can lead to the generation of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs). As the use of these materials continues to grow, the mechanical degradation of plastics from 3D printing may increase human exposure to MNPs, raising concerns about potential health risks for users and environmental impacts. One of the main routes of exposure to MNPs is via inhalation. For regulatory purposes, most of…

Micro/nanoplastic-induced alterations in cellular fate and full-cycle spermatogenesis: A mechanistic review and perspective on intergenerational risks

Micro/nanoplastics (MNPs), ranging from 25 nm to 10 μm, have emerged as ubiquitous environmental pollutants, with an increasing body of research exploring their potential risks to male reproductive health. This review provides a synthesis of the observed impacts of MNPs on spermatogenesis, focusing on cellular fate, homeostatic disruption, and potential intergenerational consequences. Evidence from experimental models, utilizing dosages from 50 μg/kg/day to 75 mg/kg/day, suggests that MNPs may…

Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Plastic Problem

People walk into stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s believing they are making safer, healthier choices.
The lighting feels softer. The signs talk about wellness, sustainability, clean ingredients, natural living, organic sourcing, and environmental responsibility. The branding communicates trust before customers even place a single item into their carts.
Consumers pay premium prices because they believe these stores represent something fundamentally healthier than conventional grocery chains.
But once you begin looking closely, another reality becomes difficult to ignore.
Plastic is everywhere.