Size-dependent toxicity of polystyrene microplastics in lung cells: An in vivo and in vitro study

Acute exposure to 12 mg/kg of 1 µm polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) in mice resulted in a 9.09% weight loss compared to controls.

• 1 µm PS-MPs accumulated 1.38-fold more in the lungs than 10 µm particles.
• Subchronic exposure to 1 µm PS-MPs increased lung injury scores by 2.5-fold compared to 10 µm PS-MPs.
• Myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde levels rose by 2.13-fold and 1.81-fold, respectively, in response to 1 µm and 10 µm PS-MPs.
• In vitro exposure to 1 µm PS-MPs led to a 50% loss of mitochondrial function and a 17% increase in cell apoptosis.
• 1 µm PS-MPs activated matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) significantly, with MMP-2 and MMP-9 increasing by 180% and 250%, respectively.
• Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is identified as a novel mechanism for the cytotoxicity of PS-MPs.

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