Category Archives: Microplastics & Environmental Health

Plastics are synthetic polymers widely used for their versatility, longer shelf life, and low cost. However, the non-biodegradable nature of conventional plastics has led to accumulation of microplastics (MPs; <5mm) and nanoplastics (NPs; <100 nm) in aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments. MNPs are composed of polyethene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyethene terephthalate. Human exposure to micro and nanoplastics occurs mainly through ingestion, inhalation,…

Plastics released into natural environments undergo complex transformations, ending in the spontaneous formation of an “eco-corona”, a dynamic layer of adsorbed organic molecules, biomolecules, and microorganisms. This eco-corona profoundly alters the physicochemical identity of micro- and nanoplastics, modulating their environmental fate, pollutant adsorption, cellular uptake, and toxicity. Emerging evidence shows that eco-corona-coated plastics can act as vectors for environmental pollutants…

The presence of nanoplastics (NPs) in the environment raises concerns about human exposure, mainly through ingestion. However, little is known about their physicochemical transformations during digestion. This study investigated the behaviour of polystyrene (PS) NPs (350 nm, 500 nm, and a 1:1 mixture) during in vitro digestion. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), ζ-potential measurements, and single-particle extinction and scattering (SPES) were used to evaluate changes in particle size, surface…

Nanoplastic pollution is a serious global concern, which has caused great threat to the human health. However, the relationship between nanoplastic exposure and the development and progression of ulcerative colitis (UC) is still unknown. We established a chronic dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model with exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) and evaluated disease severity, gut inflammation, and intestinal barrier function. The immune microenvironment was assessed using…

Plastic production has been increasing exponentially. Throughout their lifespan, plastics degrade into smaller particles that accumulate in our bodies and the environment. Recent studies found these plastic particles can cross the placental barrier and reach the fetus. However, the impact of plastic particles on placental function is still unknown. We hypothesized that nanoplastics would disrupt placental growth and function, specifically focusing on transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ)…

The accumulation of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in the environment increasingly entails human exposure to this class of highly diverse polymer particles. To evaluate potential risks to human health, hazard assessments commonly involve in vitro testing using human-derived cell lines to establish dose-response relationships for MNPs. However, the reliable quantification of actual particle uptake in cells is particularly challenging for nanoscale materials (particles less than 1 μm in size). We…

Nanoplastics (NPs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants, yet their subcellular fate from membrane encounter to destination remains poorly understood due to limitations in imaging resolution. Here, we address this gap by using stimulated emission depletion (STED) super-resolution microscopy to visualize the complete intracellular journey of individual NPs at nanoscale precision. A photostable AIEgen-core NP enabled resolution of individual NPs and real-time tracking of their nanoscale…

Raman spectroscopy is a commonly used label-free technique for the chemical analysis of microplastics (MPs), which are defined as plastic particles larger than 1 μm but smaller than 5 mm size; given its small signal strength and diffraction-limited spatial resolution, Raman spectroscopy has limited applicability in the study of nanoplastics (NPs), which are defined as particles smaller than 1 μm. Tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) is a promising technique that can overcome these limitations by…

Acrylamide, bisphenols, phthalates, and micro- and nanoplastics are pervasive environmental pollutants with well-documented carcinogenic, neurotoxic, and reproductive effects. Nonetheless, their potential contribution to cardiovascular diseases remains strikingly unrecognised, despite the rising incidence of their clinical manifestations in younger populations and growing evidence of their effects on haemostasis and thrombosis. Single- and dual-antiplatelet therapy only partially controls the…

This systematic literature review (B-SLR) examines the emerging scholarly consensus on mechanistic linkage between genotoxic exposures and multisystem health dysfunctions. We systematically reviewed 200 peer-reviewed publications from 2021 to 2025 applying SPAR4-SLR protocol with quality appraisal using ROBINS-I adaptation and also performed assessment of publication bias. We have identified trends in genotoxicity research and its causal relationship with reproductive and neurocognitive health…