Polystyrene nanoparticles: Sources, occurrence in the environment, distribution in tissues, accumulation and toxicity to various organisms

Kik, Kinga; Bukowska, Bożena; Sicińska, Paulina

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114297

Cited by 366 publications

(176 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…Chemical additives adsorbed to the surface or added to plastics during the polymerization process can leach or be transferred from polystyrene products with normal use. These additives may include carcinogens or endocrine disrupting factors (e.g., vinyl chloride, phthalates) [47,48]. Fundamental studies of plastics toxicology identify and refer to the potential for chemical leakage from polystyrene products after the addition of hot, cold, or boiling water [49].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nanopolystyrene translocation and fetal deposition after acute lung exposure during late-stage pregnancy

et al. 2020

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Background Plastic is everywhere. It is used in food packaging, storage containers, electronics, furniture, clothing, and common single-use disposable items. Microplastic and nanoplastic particulates are formed from bulk fragmentation and disintegration of plastic pollution. Plastic particulates have recently been detected in indoor air and remote atmospheric fallout. Due to their small size, microplastic and nanoplastic particulate in the atmosphere can be inhaled and may pose a risk for human health, specifically in susceptible populations. When inhaled, nanosized particles have been shown to translocate across pulmonary cell barriers to secondary organs, including the placenta. However, the potential for maternal-to-fetal translocation of nanosized-plastic particles and the impact of nanoplastic deposition or accumulation on fetal health remain unknown. In this study we investigated whether nanopolystyrene particles can cross the placental barrier and deposit in fetal tissues after maternal pulmonary exposure. Results Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to 20 nm rhodamine-labeled nanopolystyrene beads (2.64 × 1014 particles) via intratracheal instillation on gestational day (GD) 19. Twenty-four hours later on GD 20, maternal and fetal tissues were evaluated using fluorescent optical imaging. Fetal tissues were fixed for particle visualization with hyperspectral microscopy. Using isolated placental perfusion, a known concentration of nanopolystyrene was injected into the uterine artery. Maternal and fetal effluents were collected for 180 min and assessed for polystyrene particle concentration. Twenty-four hours after maternal exposure, fetal and placental weights were significantly lower (7 and 8%, respectively) compared with controls. Nanopolystyrene particles were detected in the maternal lung, heart, and spleen. Polystyrene nanoparticles were also observed in the placenta, fetal liver, lungs, heart, kidney, and brain suggesting maternal lung-to-fetal tissue nanoparticle translocation in late stage pregnancy. Conclusion These studies confirm that maternal pulmonary exposure to nanopolystyrene results in the translocation of plastic particles to placental and fetal tissues and renders the fetoplacental unit vulnerable to adverse effects. These data are vital to the understanding of plastic particulate toxicology and the developmental origins of health and disease.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nanopolystyrene translocation and fetal deposition after acute lung exposure during late-stage pregnancy

et al. 2020

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“…Chemical additives adsorbed to the surface or added to plastics during the polymerization process can leach or be transferred from polystyrene products with normal use. These additives may include carcinogens or endocrine disrupting factors (e.g., vinyl chloride, phthalates) [32,33]. Historical studies identify and refer to the potential for chemical leakage from polystyrene products after the addition of hot, cold, or boiling water [34].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nanopolystyrene Translocation and Fetal Deposition After Acute Lung Exposure During Late-Stage Pregnancy

Fournier

D’Errico

Adler

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Abstract Background: Plastic is everywhere. It is used in food packaging, storage containers, electronics, furniture, clothing, and common single-use disposable items. Microplastic and nanoplastic particulates are formed from bulk fragmentation and disintegration of plastic pollution. Plastic particulates have recently been detected in indoor air and remote atmospheric fallout. Due to their small size, microplastic and nanoplastic particulate in the atmosphere can be inhaled and may pose a risk for human health, specifically in susceptible populations. When inhaled, nanosized particles have been shown to translocate across pulmonary cell barriers to secondary organs, including the placenta. However, the potential for maternal-to-fetal translocation of nanosized-plastic particles and the impact of nanoplastic deposition and accumulation on fetal health remain unknown. In this study we investigated whether nanopolystyrene particles can cross the placental barrier and deposit in fetal tissues after maternal pulmonary exposure.Results: Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to 20 nm rhodamine-labeled nanopolystyrene beads (2.64 x 1014 particles) via intratracheal instillation on gestational day (GD) 19. Twenty-four hours later on GD 20, maternal and fetal tissues were evaluated using fluorescent optical imaging. Fetal tissues were fixed for particle visualization with hyperspectral microscopy. Using isolated placental perfusion, a known concentration of nanopolystyrene was injected into the uterine artery. Maternal and fetal effluents were collected for 180 minutes and assessed for polystyrene particle concentration. Twenty-four hours after maternal exposure, fetal and placental weights were significantly lower (7% and 8%, respectively) compared with controls. Nanopolystyrene particles were detected in the maternal lung, heart, and spleen. Polystyrene nanoparticles were also observed in the placenta, fetal liver, lungs, heart, kidney, and brain suggesting maternal lung-to-fetal tissue nanoparticle translocation in late stage pregnancy.Conclusion: These studies confirm that maternal pulmonary exposure to nanopolystyrene results in the translocation of plastic particles to placental and fetal tissues and renders the fetoplacental unit vulnerable to adverse effects. These data are vital to the understanding of plastic particulate toxicology and the developmental origins of health and disease.

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“…PS is mobile, spreads across ocean boundaries via currents, and is an invasive species because of its light weight (Brandts et al, 2018;Jin et al, 2018). PS particles generated from land activities are distributed and accumulate in aquatic ecosystems through various processes (Kik et al, 2020). Aquatic ecosystems include not only marine waters but also fresh and brackish waters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heavy Metal Adsorption and Release on Polystyrene Particles at Various Salinities

et al. 2021

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Microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals are two major types of pollutants that interact with each other, but they are poorly understood. Polystyrene (PS) is one type of MPs that is often detected in aquatic environments. In this study, we examined the adsorption capacity and release rate of heavy metals with respect to different particle sizes of PS, heavy metals, initial heavy metal concentrations, and salinities. Virgin (new) PS with diameters of 20, 50, 130, and 250 μm was used in this study, and four heavy metals (lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc) were used. The results showed that larger PS particle sizes adsorbed more heavy metals even though it took longer to achieve equilibrium adsorption. An increase in heavy metal concentration caused the adsorption capacity (μg g–1) of PS particles to also increase, but the adsorption rate (%) decreased. Increased salinity of the heavy metal solution resulted in a slower adsorption time and a lower adsorption capacity and release rate from the surface of PS particles. Different heavy metals also had different adsorption capacities. Pb was consistently more highly adsorbed by MPs, followed by Cu, Zn, and Cd. Larger PS sizes released heavy metals faster than smaller PS sizes, and the amounts of heavy metals released were higher. The heavy metal with the highest release rate was Cd, followed by Pb, Cu, and Zn. Finally, our findings highlight the interactions between PS and heavy metals and strongly support that PS particles can act as vectors for heavy metals in aquatic systems.

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Polystyrene nanoparticles: Sources, occurrence in the environment, distribution in tissues, accumulation and toxicity to various organisms

Cited by 366 publications

References 71 publications

Nanopolystyrene translocation and fetal deposition after acute lung exposure during late-stage pregnancy

Nanopolystyrene translocation and fetal deposition after acute lung exposure during late-stage pregnancy

Nanopolystyrene Translocation and Fetal Deposition After Acute Lung Exposure During Late-Stage Pregnancy

Heavy Metal Adsorption and Release on Polystyrene Particles at Various Salinities

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