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Toxics
Special Issues
Insights into Toxicological Effects of Micro- and Nano-Plastics
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Insights into Toxicological Effects of Micro- and Nano-Plastics

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 March 2026) | Viewed by 5749

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Yi Cao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Public Health, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
Interests: nanotoxicology; cardiovascular effects; 3D human brain organoids; zebrafish; Kruppel-like factors; neurotoxicology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Due to the wide uses of plastics, micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) have become emerging environmental pollutants and hold broad research interests for their potential toxicity to humans. MNPs can originate directly from industrial production as primary particles, or may form by the degradation of larger plastics into secondary particles. The toxicity of MNPs is influenced by many factors, such as concentrations, exposure durations, particle sizes, their interactions with other molecules, and the models used for evaluation. This Special Issue will share the latest developments in the understanding of MNPs’ toxicity and mechanisms. The potential topics may include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) prediction of the acute and chronic toxicity of MNPs; (2) investigation of the toxicological mechanisms of MNPs, such as oxidative stress, autophagy and/or endoplasmic reticulum stress, and microflora dysbiosis; (3) evaluation of the current models to study MNPs’ toxicity, including cell cultures, model organisms, alternative models, and computational models—combining multiple models for better prediction of human risk is highly encouraged; (4) how the interactions between MNPs and other molecules, such as nutrient molecules in vivo, impact the biological effects of MNPs; (5) investigation of the role of particle size in determining the toxicological effects of MNPs. Both original articles and review/perspectives that reflect the latest developments in this field are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Yi Cao
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs)
  • acute toxicity
  • chronic toxicity
  • alternative models
  • toxicological mechanisms
  • MNP and nutrient molecule interactions
  • size-dependent effects

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2076 KB  
Article
A Toxicological Assessment of Airborne Microplastics in Beijing
by Susu Fan, Ziyu Guo, Longyi Shao, Pengju Liu, Tim Jones, Yaxin Cao, Wen-Jing Deng, Hong Li and Kelly BéruBé
Toxics 2026, 14(4), 312; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14040312 - 7 Apr 2026
Viewed by 791
Abstract
Microplastics have emerged as a relatively new type of pollutant and have attracted significant global attention. This study focuses on toxicology of microplastics in ambient PM2.5 and road dustfall in Beijing. It utilizes the Plasmid Scission Assay to toxicologically evaluate the oxidative [...] Read more.
Microplastics have emerged as a relatively new type of pollutant and have attracted significant global attention. This study focuses on toxicology of microplastics in ambient PM2.5 and road dustfall in Beijing. It utilizes the Plasmid Scission Assay to toxicologically evaluate the oxidative damage capacity of microplastics as a component of PM2.5. The Pollution Load Index (PLI) method, based on the mass concentration of microplastics in ambient air, was employed to assess the ecological risk of atmospheric dustfall microplastics in Beijing. The results showed that both standard microplastic samples and mixed samples of microplastics with ambient PM2.5 exhibited a dose–response relationship in DNA damage rates. At the same dose, microplastic samples with smaller particle sizes have a higher DNA damage rate. Based on the PLI results, most road dustfall microplastics in Beijing exhibit significant spatial variation. Analysis of road dustfall along the east–west main road across Beijing’s urban area revealed that microplastic pollution levels are higher in the eastern zone than in the western zone. Comparisons of pollution levels across functional areas in Beijing showed that university areas > residential areas > industrial areas > commercial areas > agricultural areas. In vertically collected samples, higher elevations (PLI13.6m = 3.54) exhibit greater pollution levels than lower (PLI1.5m = 1), which warrants special attention. These findings highlight the complex relationship between atmospheric microplastic accumulation and their oxidative capacity, providing essential insights for the design of targeted emission reduction strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insights into Toxicological Effects of Micro- and Nano-Plastics)
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Review

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20 pages, 14986 KB  
Review
Microplastic Neurotoxicity in the Prefrontal Cortex: A Review of Mechanisms and Neuropsychiatric Associations
by Zixuan Liang, Enguo Zhang, Bing Han, Zhenhao Yang, Xiangjing Meng, Yu Zhang, Jiazi Ma, Ziyang Xu, Mengjie Cheng, Hua Shao and Shangya Chen
Toxics 2026, 14(5), 359; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14050359 - 24 Apr 2026
Viewed by 589
Abstract
The escalating crisis of plastic pollution has positioned microplastics (MPs) as globally pervasive environmental contaminants, with a documented presence across aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric ecosystems, as well as within biological organisms. A growing body of evidence suggests that MPs not only threaten ecological [...] Read more.
The escalating crisis of plastic pollution has positioned microplastics (MPs) as globally pervasive environmental contaminants, with a documented presence across aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric ecosystems, as well as within biological organisms. A growing body of evidence suggests that MPs not only threaten ecological integrity but may also induce multifaceted neurotoxic effects in humans, particularly targeting the functional architecture of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). As the central regulator of cognition, emotional processing, and behavioral control, PFC dysfunction has been hypothesized to be associated with cognitive deficits, emotional dysregulation, and behavioral abnormalities. In this comprehensive review, we synthesize the current understanding of MP-mediated neurotoxicity through three interconnected pathways: (1) structural and functional impairment of PFC neural networks, (2) disruption of neurotransmitter homeostasis, and (3) potential associations with neuropsychiatric pathogenesis. By integrating these mechanistic insights, this work aims to provide a scientific foundation for risk assessment frameworks and evidence-based environmental health policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insights into Toxicological Effects of Micro- and Nano-Plastics)
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31 pages, 1084 KB  
Review
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Micro- and Nanoplastics Driving Adverse Human Health Effects
by Antonio F. Hernández, Marina Lacasaña, Aristidis M. Tsatsakis and Anca Oana Docea
Toxics 2025, 13(11), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13110921 - 28 Oct 2025
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3525
Abstract
Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are increasingly recognized as emerging contaminants of concern for human health. Their small size, diverse composition, and reactive surface enable interactions with biological barriers and cellular systems. This comprehensive narrative review synthesizes and critically evaluates current evidence on the [...] Read more.
Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are increasingly recognized as emerging contaminants of concern for human health. Their small size, diverse composition, and reactive surface enable interactions with biological barriers and cellular systems. This comprehensive narrative review synthesizes and critically evaluates current evidence on the mechanistic effects of MNPs in humans and experimental models. Systemic mechanisms, including oxidative stress, inflammation, barrier disruption, and immune dysregulation, may underlie reported adverse effects in the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular, nervous and reproductive systems, as well as the placenta. Omics studies further reveal alterations in metabolic and stress-response pathways, providing systems-level insights and candidate biomarkers. Human data remain limited to biomonitoring studies, and causality has not yet been established. Toxicological data, though informative, often rely on pristine particles and high-dose, short-term exposures that exceed environmental estimates, highlighting the need for chronic, low-dose models. Major challenges include difficulties in detecting and quantifying MNPs in tissues, limited attribution of effects to polymers versus additives or adsorbed contaminants, and lack of standardized characterization and reporting. Emerging advances, such as reference materials, omics profiling, and organ-on-chip technologies, offer opportunities to close these gaps. Overall, the available data suggest biologically plausible pathways for health risks, but methodological refinement and harmonized research strategies are essential for robust human health assessment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insights into Toxicological Effects of Micro- and Nano-Plastics)
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