ArticleJournal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology2025
Plastic induced urinary tract disease and dysfunction: a scoping review.
Article in Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Micro- and nanoplastics in the human genitourinary system: oncological impact - a systematic review.BJU international · 2026Pooled it
- Molecular and Cellular Effects of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in the Pathogenesis of Cardiovascular, Nervous, Urinary, Digestive, and Reproductive System Diseases: A Global Systematic Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Pooled it
- Water conservation and circular water reuse in clinical haemodialysis facilities: a scoping review.International urology and nephrology · 2026Article
- [Microplastic and male urogenital health: current evidence and clinical implications].Urologie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2026Review
- Micro- and Nanoplastics in the Human Exposome: Environmental Pathways, Kidney Toxicity, and Implications for Public Health Risk Assessment.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Microplastics and Nanoplastics in the Human Diet: Sources of Exposure, Bioavailability, Toxicokinetics, and Systemic Health Effects.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Multi-omics and genetic prioritization identify candidate molecular links between micro- and nanoplastics-associated signatures and chronic kidney disease.Molecular diversity · 2026Article
- Microplastics as both a driver of genitourinary cancers and a deliverer of treatments.Communications medicine · 2026Review
- Effects of micro and nano plastics on renal health.World journal of nephrology · 2026Review
- Lifestyle implications of the paradox and management of oxidative stress in sperm.The Journal of physiology · 2026Review
- Detection of microplastics in bladder wash fluid obtained after cystoscopy in patients diagnosed with bladder cancer.Frontiers in public health · 2026Observational
- From environment to organs: individual and combined effects of MPs and PFAS on urinary system health.Frontiers in physiology · 2026Review
- DNA Damage and Bisphenol Levels in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis.Journal of xenobiotics · 2025Article
- The micro(nano)plastics perspective: exploring cancer development and therapy.Molecular cancer · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionIn 2019 the World Health Organisation published a report which concluded microplastics in drinking water did not present a threat to human health. Since this time a plethora of research has emerged demonstrating the presence of plastic in various organ systems and their deleterious pathophysiological effects.
methodsA scoping review was undertaken in line with recommendations from the Johanna Briggs Institute. Five databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, CINAHL, Web of Science and EMBASE) were systematically searched in addition to a further grey literature search.
resultsEighteen articles were identified, six of which investigated and characterised the presence of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in the human urinary tract. Microplastics were found to be present in kidney, urine and bladder cancer samples. Twelve articles investigated the effect of MNPs on human cell lines associated with the human urinary tract. These articles suggest MNPs have a cytotoxic effect, increase inflammation, decrease cell viability and alter mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signalling pathways.
conclusionGiven the reported presence MNPs in human tissues and organs, these plastics may have potential health implications in bladder disease and dysfunction. As a result, institutions such as the World Health Organisation need to urgently re-evaluate their position on the threat of microplastics to public health. IMPACT STATEMENT: This scoping review highlights the rapidly emerging threat of microplastic contamination within the human urinary tract, challenging the World Health Organisation's assertion that microplastics pose no risk to public health. The documented cytotoxic effects of microplastics, alongside their ability to induce inflammation, reduce cell viability and disrupt signalling pathways, raise significant public health concerns relating to bladder cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic urinary tract infections and incontinence. As a result, this study emphasises the pressing need for further research and policy development to address the challenges surrounding microplastic contamination.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.