Scientific publications

• Investigating nanoplastics toxicity using advanced stem cell-based intestinal and lung in vitro models
  M. Busch, H. Brouwer, G. Aalderink, G. Bredeck, A.A.M. Kämpfer, R.P.F. Schins, H. Bouwmeester
  Frontiers in Toxicology (vol. 5, January 2023)

• Environmentally weathered polystyrene particles induce phenotypical and functional maturation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells
  A.E.T. van den Berg, M. Plantinga, D. Vethaak, K.J. Adriaans, M. Bol-Schoenmakers, J. Legler, R.H.H. Pieters
  Journal of Immunotoxicology (vol. 19, November 2022)

• Experimental human placental models for studying uptake, transport and toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics
  H.M. Dusza, J. van Boxel, M.B.M. van Duursen, M.M. Forsberg, J. Legler, K.H. Vähäkangas
  Science of the Total Environment (November 2022)

• Uptake, transport, and toxicity of pristine and weathered micro- and nanoplastics in human placenta cells
  H.M. Dusza, E.A. Katrukha, S.M. Nijmeijer, A. Akhmanova, D. Vethaak, D.I. Walker, J. Legler
  Environmental Health Perspectives (vol. 130, September 2022)

• Response to Dr. Kuhlman’s letter
  H.A. Leslie, M.J.M. van Velzen, S.H. Brandsma, D. Vethaak, J.J. Garcia-Vallejo, M.H. Lamoree
  Environmental International (vol. 167, September 2022)

• Applying existing particle paradigms to inhaled microplastic particles
  S. Wright, P.J.A. Borm
  Frontiers in Public Health (May 2022)

• Discovery and quantification of plastic particle pollution in human blood
  H.A. Leslie, M.J.M. van Velzen, S.H. Brandsma, D. Vethaak, J.J. Garcia-Vallejo, M.H. Lamoree
  Environment International (vol. 163, May 2022)

• Relationship Between Particle Properties and Immunotoxicological Effects of Environmentally-Sourced Microplastics
  N.R.M. Beijer, A. Dehaut, M.P. Carlier, H. Wolter, R.M. Versteegen, J.L.A. Pennings, L. de la Fonteyne, H. Niemann, H.M. Janssen, B.G. Timmermans, W. Mennes, F.R. Cassee, M.J.B. Mengelers, L.A. Amaral-Zettler, G. Duflos, Y.C.M. Staal
  Frontiers in Water (vol. 4, May 2022)

• Advanced epithelial lung and gut barrier models demonstrate passage of microplastic particles
  J.M. Donkers, E.M. Höppener, I. Grigoriev, L. Will, B.N. Melgert, B. van der Zaan, E. van de Steeg, I.M. Kooter
  Microplastics and Nanoplastics (January 2022)

• Riverine microplastic and microbial community compositions: A field study in the Netherlands
  L. Mughini-Gras, R.Q.J. van der Plaats, P.W.J.J. van der Wielen, P.S. Bauerlein, A.M. de Roda Husman
  Water Research (vol. 192, March 2021)

• Inhalable textile microplastic fibers impair lung repair
  F. van Dijk, S. Song, G.W.A. van Eck, X. Wu, I.S.T. Bos, D.H.A. Boom, I.M. Kooter, D.C.J. Spierings, R. Wardenaar, M. Cole, A. Salvati, R. Gosens, B.N. Melgert
  bioRxiv (March 2021)

• Microplastics and human health – Knowledge gaps should be addressed to ascertain the health risks of microplastics
  D. Vethaak, J. Legler
  Science (vol. 371, February 2021)

• The plastic brain: neurotoxicity of micro- and nanoplastics
  M. Prüst, J. Meijer, R.H.S. Westerink
  Particle and Fibre Toxicology (vol. 17, June 2020)

Related publications

Follow-up research into health risks of microplastics needed

In 2019, ZonMW started with 15 breakthrough projects about the health effects of micro- and nanoplastics. Now the first results are out. Experimental human material or laboratory animals have been exposed to micro- and nanoplastics. This shows that small plastic particles can cross the intestinal wall, the lungs, the placenta and even the blood-brain barrier. They also appear to disrupt the functioning of these different body cells. Sometimes inflammatory reactions also occur.