Detection of microplastics in human tissues and organs: A scoping review

Microplastics in the marine environment: Challenges and the shift towards sustainable plastics and plasticizers

The United Nations (UN) estimate that around 75-199 million tons of plastic is floating in the world's oceans today. Continuous unintentional disposal of plastic waste in marine environments has and continues to cause significant biological impacts to various marine organisms ranging from mild difficulties in swimming or superficial damage to critical organ malfunctions and mortality. Over time, plastics in these environments degrade into microplastics which are now acknowledged as a pervasive harmful pollutant found in the cryosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere. In response to this issue, the production of bespoke biodegradable bioplastics derived from renewable resources, such as vegetable oils, starch and plant fibres, is emerging to mitigate our reliance on environmentally persistent conventional fossil fuel-based plastics. While bioplastics degrade more readily than conventional plastics, they present new challenges, including leaching of toxic chemical additives and plasticizers into the environment. Consequently, various techniques have been explored in the search for sustainable plasticizers, from cheap, non-toxic compounds, such as vegetable oils and sugars to hyperbranched structures with limited migration. This article seeks to explain the intricate relationship between the problem of microplastics in marine environments and the strategies that have been investigated to address it thus far.

Microplastics and nanoplastics increase major adverse cardiac events in patients with myocardial infarction

Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) have implicated in cardiovascular disease in preclinical studies. Our objective is to investigate the relationship between MNPs in the coronary arteries and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with myocardial infarction (MI).We conducted a prospective observational study involving patients undergoing coronary angiography for MI. Coronary blood samples were analyzed for the presence of MNPs using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of 142 patients were enrolled, with 110 completing a 31.5-month follow-up. Among them, 48 (43.6 %) had detectable polystyrene, 79 (71.8 %) had polyethylene, 105 (95.4 %) had polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and 68 (61.8 %) had polyamide 66 in their coronary blood. PVC concentration was higher in patients who experienced MACE. Furthermore, PVC levels were positively associated with proinflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α), and associated with higher odds of MACE (OR: 1.090, 95 %CI: 1.032-1.1523, P = 0.002). Notably, for each 10-unit increase in PVC, there was a 1.374-fold increase in the risk of MACE (OR=2.374, 95 %CI: 1.366-4.128, P = 0.002). Additionally, we collected blood and thrombus samples from an additional 21 MI patients, finding that PVC levels in coronary thrombi were positively correlated with inflammatory markers and monocyte/macrophage infiltration.

Transcriptome Sequencing and Metabolite Analysis Revealed the Single and Combined Effects of Microplastics and Di-(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate on Mouse Liver

The widespread use of plastics has led to a substantial increase in plastic waste, resulting in the dissemination of plastic debris throughout ecosystems and posing significant threats to biota. Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a commonly used plasticizer, enhances plastic flexibility but may also exert subtle toxic effects. This study aimed to investigate the potential toxicological impacts and underlying mechanisms of microplastics (MPs), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and their combined exposure (MPs + DEHP) on oxidative stress, apoptotic damage, transcriptomic alterations, and metabolic disturbances in mice. The results demonstrated that exposure to MPs, DEHP, and MPs + DEHP impaired the antioxidant defense system and reduced overall antioxidant capacity. Concurrently, all three exposure conditions significantly increased biochemical markers, particularly those associated with liver dysfunction, prompting further analysis of hepatic tissues. Histopathological examination revealed apoptotic damage in hepatocytes. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses indicated that exposure to MPs, DEHP, and MPs + DEHP disrupted carbohydrate, amino acid, and lipid metabolism, induced the expression of genes related to hepatocarcinogenesis, and impaired purine metabolism. Moreover, MP and DEHP exposure aggravated hepatic apoptosis and inflammatory responses via activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thereby eliciting notable biotoxic effects. These findings provide new scientific evidence regarding the individual and combined toxicological effects of MPs and the plastic additive DEHP on living organisms.

Hidden hazards: microplastics in intravenous admixtures and their path into the body

Microplastics (MPs) have been detected in all environmental spheres, from the Arctic to the deepest ocean trenches, and have also infiltrated the internal organs of the human body through ingestion, inhalation, and other exposure routes. While various commercial products have been identified as origin of MPs, leading to bans and awareness campaigns, their presence in medical treatments remains underexplored. This study investigates MPs in intravenous (IV) admixtures, which are stored in plastic containers before administration. The hypothesis suggests that prolonged storage may degrade container walls, leading to the release of MPs into the solutions. Analysis of 11 IV admixtures with the help of a stereomicroscope revealed a significant presence of fibre and fragment particles, with 99% of detected MPs measuring less than 100 µm. Polymers identified through a micro FTIR included polypropylene-polyethylene (PP-PE) copolymer, polypropylene (PP) homopolymer, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and polyurethane (PU). The abundance of MPs increased with storage duration, with older solutions exhibiting more surface roughness, indicating progressive degradation of plastic materials over time. These findings highlight an overlooked route of MP exposure, directly introducing these particles into the human body during medical treatments. Given the increasing use of IV therapies worldwide, further research is essential to assess the health risks posed by MPs in medical solutions. Regulatory measures should be considered to minimize contamination and ensure patient safety.

The Effects of Microplastics on Musculoskeletal Disorder; A Narrative Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The physical health impacts of microplastics have received increasing attention in recent years. However, limited data impedes a full understanding of the internal exposure to microplastics, especially concerning the musculoskeletal system. The purpose of this review is to summarize the recent literature regarding the effects of microplastics on the musculoskeletal system.

RECENT FINDINGS

Microplastics have been shown to cause abnormal endochondral ossification and disrupt the normal function of pre-osteoblasts, osteocyte-like cells, and pre-osteoclasts through gene mutations, endoplasmic reticulum stress induction, and reduced autophagosome formation in bone growth areas. Although there are few reports on their effects on muscle, it has been noted that microplastics inhibit energy and lipid metabolism, decrease type I muscle fiber density, impair muscle angiogenesis, cause muscle atrophy, and increase lipid deposition. Only a few recent studies have shown that microplastics interfere with the normal function of bone growth-related cells and reduce muscle mass and quality. This review underscores the need for further research into other parts of the musculoskeletal system and studies using human tissues at the disease level.

An updated systematic review about various effects of microplastics on cancer: A pharmacological and in-silico based analysis

Microplastics (MPs) are known as substantial environmental and health threats because of their pervasive existence and potential function in human diseases. This study is the first research in which a comprehensive analysis of various impacts of MPs on cancer cells is performed through pharmacological and in silico approaches. Moreover, our results demonstrate that MPs have both promotive and suppressive impacts on cancer cells, changing some of the important features of these kinds of cells including cellular viability, migration, metastasis, and apoptosis. Furthermore, the present study displayed that AP-2 complex subunit mu-1 (AP2M1), Asialoglycoprotein receptor 2 (ASGR2), Bax inhibitor-1 (BI-1), and Ferritin Heavy Chain, and pivotal role in the progression of cancers mediated by MPs. Moreover, our in-silico analysis identified Goserelin, Paclitaxel, Raloxifene, Exemestane, Epirubicin, Trametinib, Vemurafenib, Pactitaxel, and Sorafenib as potential anticancer agents for curing MPS-based cancer. Besides, our results demonstrated that MPs can exacerbate the development of tumor cells by affecting some important mechanisms including oxidative stress, immune suppression, and adjusting of critical signaling pathways. Interestingly, some sorts of MPs also displayed suppressive effects on cancer cells in some particular contexts, highlighting their complicated biological roles in different biological interactions. Ultimately the present survey tries to demonstrate the crucial roles of MPs in cancer cells and the different mechanisms that occur in the mentioned cells in order to emphasize performing more studies about clarifying the roles of MPs in carcinogenesis.

Microplastics in the Human Body: Exposure, Detection, and Risk of Carcinogenesis: A State-of-the-Art Review

Background: Humans cannot avoid plastic exposure due to its ubiquitous presence in the natural environment. The waste generated is poorly biodegradable and exists in the form of MPs, which can enter the human body primarily through the digestive tract, respiratory tract, or damaged skin and accumulate in various tissues by crossing biological membrane barriers. There is an increasing amount of research on the health effects of MPs. Most literature reports focus on the impact of plastics on the respiratory, digestive, reproductive, hormonal, nervous, and immune systems, as well as the metabolic effects of MPs accumulation leading to epidemics of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. MPs, as xenobiotics, undergo ADMET processes in the body, i.e., absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, which are not fully understood. Of particular concern are the carcinogenic chemicals added to plastics during manufacturing or adsorbed from the environment, such as chlorinated paraffins, phthalates, phenols, and bisphenols, which can be released when absorbed by the body. The continuous increase in NMP exposure has accelerated during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic when there was a need to use single-use plastic products in daily life. Therefore, there is an urgent need to diagnose problems related to the health effects of MP exposure and detection. Methods: We collected eligible publications mainly from PubMed published between 2017 and 2024. Results: In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on potential sources and routes of exposure, translocation pathways, identification methods, and carcinogenic potential confirmed by in vitro and in vivo studies. Additionally, we discuss the limitations of studies such as contamination during sample preparation and instrumental limitations constraints affecting imaging quality and MPs detection sensitivity. Conclusions: The assessment of MP content in samples should be performed according to the appropriate procedure and analytical technique to ensure Quality and Control (QA/QC). It was confirmed that MPs can be absorbed and accumulated in distant tissues, leading to an inflammatory response and initiation of signaling pathways responsible for malignant transformation.

Teabag-derived micro/nanoplastics (true-to-life MNPLs) as a surrogate for real-life exposure scenarios

The potential health implications of environmental micro/nanoplastics (MNPLs) are increasingly concerning. Beyond environmental exposure, other sources such as food packaging, including herbal/teabags, may also be significant. This study investigates the release of MNPLs from three commercially available teabags. By simulating tea preparation, MNPL samples were extracted and characterized using a range of analytical techniques: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), attenuated total reflectance/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV), and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). The results confirmed that the teabags were made of nylon-6 (NY6), polypropylene (PP), and cellulose (CL) and that microfibers and nano-range particles (NPLs) were present in the leachates. NTA data revealed that the number of released NPLs was 1.20 × 109/mL (PP; 136.7 nm), 1.35 × 108/mL (CL; 244 nm), and 8.18 × 106/mL (NY6; 138.4). The leachate particles were then stained with iDye Poly-Pink and used to expose three human intestine-derived cell types (Caco-2, HT29, and HT29-MTX) to assess their biointeractions and the role of the mucosubstances in vitro. The results demonstrated that after 24 h of exposure to 100 μg/mL NPLs, there was significant uptake of PP-NPLs in HT29-MTX cells, as a model of cells segregating high amount of mucus. A similar uptake was observed for CL-NPLs in HT29 and HT29-MTX cells, while NY6-NPLs were internalized preferentially in Caco-2 cells. These findings underscore the importance of identifying new environmentally relevant MNPL exposure sources, for developing realistic MNPLs samples, and further investigating their potential human health effects.