Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42400059›Full record

ArticleParticle and fibre toxicology2026

Plastic signatures in childhood: first evidence of urinary micro- and nanoplastics in primary school children from Cyprus.

Maria Castrogiovanni, Paola Rapisarda, Gea Oliveri Conti, Sabrina Carola Carroccio, Paolo Maria Riccobene, Margherita Ferrante, Konstantinos C Makris

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Particle and fibre toxicology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Maria Castrogiovanni *Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technology "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Paola Rapisarda *Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technology "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Gea Oliveri ContiDepartment of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technology "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Catania, Italy. gea.olivericonti@unict.it.
Sabrina Carola CarroccioNational Research Council of Italy, Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (CNR-IPCB), Catania, Italy.
Paolo Maria RiccobeneNational Research Council of Italy, Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (CNR-IPCB), Catania, Italy.
Margherita Ferrante *Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technology "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Konstantinos C Makris *Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMicroplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) have recently been detected in several human biological matrices; however, evidence in children remains limited. This exploratory study aimed to investigate the presence and concentration of urinary MPs and NPs (MNPs) in primary school children residing in Cyprus.

resultsFirst-morning urine samples from 29 children were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM/EDX), applying strict contamination-control measures and focusing on particles < 10 μm. Pyrolysis-GC/MS was additionally used to characterize polymer composition, identifying polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) as the predominant polymers. MNPs < 10 μm were detected in all samples, with concentrations ranging from 393 to 8050 particles/ml (median: 1217 particles/ml; IQR: 800-2030). Particle diameters ranged from 0.88 μm to 3.44 μm (median: 1.69 μm; IQR: 1.25-2.25 μm; minimum: 0.77 μm; maximum: 4.88 μm). No statistically significant associations were observed between MNP concentrations and body mass index (BMI)-for-age categories or hand-to-mouth behavior.

conclusionsAlthough direct comparisons with previous studies are limited due to methodological variability among studies and the lack of standardized protocols for MNP quantification in human urine, these findings provide preliminary evidence of urinary MNPs in children. Further large-scale studies using harmonized analytical approaches are needed to better characterize exposure patterns in pediatric populations.

Indexed as

Environmental ExposureEnvironmental PollutantsMicroplasticsNanoparticlesChildCyprusEnvironmental MonitoringFemaleGas Chromatography-Mass SpectrometryHumansMaleMicroscopy, Electron, ScanningParticle SizeEnvironmental PollutantsMicroplasticsBMIHand-to-mouth behaviorMicroplasticsNanoplasticsPrimary School childrenUrinary exposure

Identifiers

PMID42400059
PMCPMC13617907

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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.