Category Archives: Microplastics & Environmental Health

In response to the plastic pollution crisis, bioplastics emerged as a sustainable alternative. However, low degradation rate and abiotic decomposition generate micro- and nanoplastics. These particles enter the food chain, establishing oral intake as a key route of human exposure. This review gathered studies on the biotransformation of bioplastics in the gastrointestinal tract and on their toxicity in human cells and murine models. Most studies focused on polylactic acid particles due to…

Human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics is increasingly recognized as a global concern, yet their long-term effects on human health remain poorly understood. Defining the cellular consequences of chronic exposure is essential for reliable risk assessment and informed environmental and public health strategies. Here, we investigated the impact of prolonged culture in presence of nanoplastics, using an in vitro hepatocyte model (HepG2) exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations (10⁴ and…

Micro/nanoplastics (M/NPs) are ubiquitous emerging contaminants that have permeated all trophic levels of global ecosystems. The gut microbiota, which serves as the central hub for host metabolic homeostasis, immune defense, and neuromodulation, is a confirmed critical amplifier of M/NP-induced toxic effects. This review describes the links between M/NP exposure, gut dysbiosis, intestinal barrier impairment, and systemic multiorgan injury. We compared microbial changes across diverse aquatic and…

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….

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…