Oxidative Stress Induced by Micro(Nano)plastics

A special issue of Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Outcomes of Antioxidants and Oxidative Stress".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 921

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy
Interests: nanoplastics; oxidative stress; bone microenvironment; extracellular vesicles; cancers; multiple myeloma
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Guest Editor
Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20146 Milan, Italy
Interests: cancer; extracellular vesicles; drug delivery; nanoparticles

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Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
Interests: ecotoxicology; biomarkers; environmental pollution; emerging contaminants
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Thanks to their unique properties, plastics have revolutionized our daily lives. However, their widespread use and inefficient waste management have made them major environmental pollutants. Once released into the environment, plastics undergo transformation processes that generate micro(nano)plastics. Numerous studies have highlighted their ubiquitous presence and potential risks to ecosystems and human health. In this context, micro(nano)plastics represent a new environmental challenge closely linked to the "One Health" concept. Scientific evidence indicates that one of the primary mechanisms through which micro(nano)plastics affect living organisms involves the induction of oxidative stress. REDOX balance plays a crucial role in regulating physiological and pathological processes, and disturbances to this balance may underlie the harmful effects of micro(nano)plastics. This Special Issue focuses on the impact of micro(nano)plastics in inducing oxidative stress in aquatic and terrestrial organisms and their implications for human health. Particular attention will be given to novel mechanisms by which micro(nano)plastics disrupt cellular microenvironments and biological systems. We welcome original research articles, reviews, and short communications from observational (human biomonitoring) and experimental (in vivo and in vitro) studies addressing these critical issues.

Dr. Lavinia Casati
Dr. Alessandro Villa
Dr. Marco Parolini
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • micro(nano)plastics
  • oxidative stress
  • One Health
  • in vitro and in vivo models
  • organisms
  • cellular microenvironment

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

39 pages, 1558 KiB  
Review
Antioxidant Intervention Against Microplastic Hazards
by Zhihua Wang, Yunting Wang, Jian Zhang, Guoquan Feng, Shuhan Miao, Rongzhu Lu, Xinyu Tian and Yang Ye
Antioxidants 2025, 14(7), 797; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14070797 - 27 Jun 2025
Viewed by 773
Abstract
Microplastic pollution (<5 mm) poses a serious threat to the environment and human health, inducing cellular stress damage in organisms (especially through oxidative stress). The damage results from excessive reactive oxygen species and impaired defense mechanisms, affecting energy production, organelles, and triggering inflammation. [...] Read more.
Microplastic pollution (<5 mm) poses a serious threat to the environment and human health, inducing cellular stress damage in organisms (especially through oxidative stress). The damage results from excessive reactive oxygen species and impaired defense mechanisms, affecting energy production, organelles, and triggering inflammation. Antioxidants (such as vitamin C, curcumin, and quercetin) reduce stress markers and inflammation by neutralizing harmful molecules, activating protective pathways, and regulating autophagy, providing potential protection. However, practical applications face challenges such as low absorption rates, large individual variations, and unclear long-term safety. Research needs to delve into the molecular interaction mechanisms, develop effective delivery systems for antioxidant combinations, and formulate evidence-based strategies. Addressing the complexity of microplastics (size, shape, additives) and their cross-ecosystem impacts requires multidisciplinary collaboration. This review explores the oxidative stress mechanisms induced by microplastics, assesses the potential and limitations of antioxidant interventions, and provides a basis for environmental health risk management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress Induced by Micro(Nano)plastics)
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