ArticleEnvironmental science and ecotechnology2024
Polystyrene microplastics and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate co-exposure: Implications for female reproductive health.
Article in Environmental science and ecotechnology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers.
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed.
- Di(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate Exposure and Risk of Diabetic Kidney Disease: Epidemiological Association and Mechanistic Insights.Diabetes/metabolism research and reviews · 2026Article
- Ovarian toxic effects of micro- and nanoplastics (Review).Experimental and therapeutic medicine · 2026Review
- Network toxicology deciphers micro- and nanoplastics-mediated mixture hazard, predictive risk assessment, and regulatory translation.Archives of toxicology · 2026Review
- Microplastics as both a driver of genitourinary cancers and a deliverer of treatments.Communications medicine · 2026Review
- Hepatotoxicity induced by polylactic acid microplastics: The mediating role of gut microbiota and uric acid metabolism.Journal of advanced research · 2026Article
- Identification of Nanoplastics by Probing the Viscous Nanoenvironment.Small science · 2025Article
- Overlooked Microplastic Contamination to Challenge the Conventional Clinical Treatment ofEnvironment & health (Washington, D.C.) · 2025Article
- Microplastic Contamination of Human Sperm before In Vitro Fertilization Warrants Attention for Early Life Exposure Risks.Environment & health (Washington, D.C.) · 2025Article
- Micro- and Nanoplastics and the Oral Cavity: Implications for Oral and Systemic Health, Dental Practice, and the Environment-A Narrative Review.Journal of functional biomaterials · 2025Review
- Computational analysis of DEHP's oncogenic role in colorectal cancer.Discover oncology · 2025Article
- Toxicity Mechanisms of Microplastic and Its Effects on Ruminant Production: A Review.Biomolecules · 2025Review
- The Impact of Microplastics in Food and Drugs on Human Health: A Review of the MENA Region.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Review
- Identification and Characterization of Microplastics in Human Cervicovaginal Lavage Fluids Using Raman Spectroscopy: A Preliminary Study.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- The micro(nano)plastics perspective: exploring cancer development and therapy.Molecular cancer · 2025Review
- Exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics impairs sperm metabolism and pre-implantation embryo development in mice.Frontiers in cell and developmental biology · 2025Article
- Cycle Effects Are Not Universal: A Case Study of Urinary C-Reactive Protein Concentrations in Rural Polish and Polish American Samples.American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council · 2025Article
- Hippo signaling pathway in polycystic ovary syndrome.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Microplastics and phthalates are prevalent and emerging pollutants that pose a potential impact on human health. Previous studies suggest that both microplastics and phthalates can adversely affect the reproductive systems of humans and mammals. However, the combined impact of these pollutants on the female reproductive system remains unclear. Here we show the impacts of exposure to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) on female Sprague-Dawley rats' reproductive systems. We find that co-exposure to PS-MPs and DEHP results in a marked increase in cystic and atretic follicles, oxidative stress, fibrosis, and dysregulation of serum sex hormone homeostasis in the ovaries of the rats. Proteomic analysis identified differentially expressed proteins that were predominantly enriched in signaling pathways related to fatty acid metabolism and tight junctions, regulated by transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1). We further confirm that co-exposure to DEHP and PS-MPs activates the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway, and inhibiting this pathway alleviates oxidative stress, hormonal dysregulation, and ovarian fibrosis. These results indicate that exposure to the combination of microplastics and phthalates leads to a significant increase in atretic follicles and may increase the risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Our study provides new insights into the reproductive toxicity effects of microplastics and DEHP exposure on female mammals, highlighting the potential link between environmental pollutants and the occurrence of PCOS. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive assessments of the reproductive health risks posed by microplastic pollution to women and contribute to the scientific basis for evaluating such risks.
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