A rapid review and meta-regression analyses of the toxicological impacts of microplastic exposure in human cells
Abstract
Humans are exposed to microplastics (MPs) daily via ingestion and inhalation. It is not known whether this results in adverse health effects and, if so, at what levels of exposure. Without epidemiological studies, human cell in vitro MP toxicological studies provide an alternative approach to this question. This review systematically synthesised all evidence and estimated thresholds of dose–response relationships. MEDLINE and Web of Science were searched from inception to March 2021 and study quality was rated using a novel risk of bias assessment tool. Seventeen studies were included in the rapid review and eight in the meta-regression. Four biological endpoints displayed MP-associated effects: cytotoxicity, immune response, oxidative stress, barrier attributes, and one did not (genotoxicity). Irregular shape was found to be the only MP characteristic predicting cell death, along with the duration of exposure and MP concentration (μg/mL). Cells showed varying cytotoxic sensitivity to MPs, with Caco-2 cells (human adenocarcinoma cell line) being the most susceptible. Minimum, environmentally-relevant, concentrations of 10 μg/mL (5–200 µm), had an adverse effect on cell viability, and 20 μg/mL (0.4 µm) on cytokine release. This work is the first to quantify thresholds of MPs effects on human cells in the context of risk assessment.
- Publication:
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Journal of Hazardous Materials
- Pub Date:
- April 2022
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127861
- Bibcode:
- 2022JHzM..42727861D
- Keywords:
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- ABCC2 and ABCG2;
- ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters;
- ABS;
- acrylonitrile butadiene styrene;
- A549;
- adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells;
- BEAS-2B;
- human lung epithelial cells;
- BeWo b30;
- human placental choriocarcinoma cell line;
- Caco-2;
- human adenocarcinoma cell line;
- CCK-8;
- cell counting kit 8;
- COOH;
- carboxy-modified surface;
- COPD;
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;
- CPS;
- Carboxylated polystyrene;
- ELISA;
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay;
- HCA;
- high content analysis;
- HDPE;
- high-density polyethylene;
- HDFs;
- human dermal fibroblasts;
- HeLa;
- cervical cancer cells;
- HepaRG;
- human hepatic cells;
- HepG2;
- Human Caucasian hepatocyte carcinoma cells;
- HMC-1;
- the human mast cell line-1;
- HPEC- A2 cells;
- SV40-transformed microvascular human placental venous endothelial cells;
- HT29-MTX-E12;
- a mucus-secreting subclone from colon adenocarcinoma HT29 cells differentiated into mature goblet cells;
- IL-;
- interleukin;
- KATO III;
- gastric cancer stem cells;
- LDH;
- lactate dehydrogenase;
- LDPE;
- low-density polyethylene;
- LIVE/DEAD kit;
- viability/cytotoxicity test;
- MCP-1;
- Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1;
- LOAEL;
- lowest-observed-adverse-effect level;
- MDM;
- human blood monocyte-derived macrophages;
- MDDC;
- dendritic cells;
- M-cell;
- Microfold cells;
- MTS assay;
- colorimetric cell proliferation assay kit;
- MTT assay;
- cellular metabolic activity colorimetric assay;
- NIH/ 3 T3;
- murine fibroblast cell line;
- NOAEL;
- no-observed-adverse-effect-level;
- NP;
- nanoplastics;
- PBMCs;
- peripheral blood mononuclear cells;
- PAN;
- polyacrylonitriles;
- PA6;
- polyamide;
- PCR;
- polymerase chain reaction;
- PE;
- polyethylene;
- PET;
- Polyethylene terephthalate;
- PP;
- polypropylene;
- PS;
- polystyrene;
- PU;
- polyurethane;
- PUR;
- polyurethanes;
- PVC;
- polyvinyl chloride;
- p53;
- sensitive reporter cell line based on the human liver carcinoma cell line;
- Raji B;
- human lymphocytes cells;
- RT-PCR;
- Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction;
- T98G;
- human glioblastoma multiforme cells;
- TEER;
- transepithelial electrical resistance;
- THP-diff.;
- THP-1 cells differentiated into macrophages;
- THP-1;
- human monocytic cell line;
- TNF-α;
- Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha;
- t-PS;
- digestive tract transformed PS-MPs;
- TPU;
- polyurethane.;
- U937;
- human histocytic lymphoma cells;
- WST-1 assay;
- cell proliferation assay;
- ZO-1;
- Zonula occludens-1;
- Dose-response;
- Risk assessment;
- Human health;
- Toxicity;
- Immune response