Nanoplastics show more toxic effects on lung cells than microplastics

In a recently published study, MOMENTUM researchers Irene Gosselink and Paula Leonhardt investigated the effects of micro- and nanoplastics of different sizes and polymer types on lung cells. They found that smaller particles (nanoplastics, smaller than 1 micrometer) were more toxic to lung cells than larger particles (microplastics, smaller than 5 mm and larger than 1 micrometer). Polyamide nanoplastics in particular caused toxic effects and activated an immune response. In the paper, published in the journal Microplastics and Nanoplastics, the researchers investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying this response.