Nanoplastics (NPs)
Also known as: NPs · plastic nanoparticles · polystyrene nanoparticles
Overview
Plastic particles smaller than 1 micrometer (1000 nanometers), formed by the continued weathering and fragmentation of microplastics. Nanoplastics represent the most toxicologically concerning fraction of plastic pollution because their small size allows them to cross biological barriers that microplastics cannot — including the blood-brain barrier, the placental barrier, and cell membranes themselves. Unlike microplastics, which are phagocytosed by immune cells, nanoplastics can enter cells directly via endocytosis and accumulate in mitochondria, the nucleus, and the cytoplasm. Their detection within PBMCs by HRMS is a direct indicator of intracellular nanoplastic burden. A landmark 2024 study found nanoplastics in human arterial plaques, associated with a significantly increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Primary Sources
Degradation of microplastics in the environment, bottled water (nanoplastics are released in far greater numbers than microplastics from plastic bottles), food packaging, atmospheric pollution, synthetic textiles, and UV degradation of any plastic surface.
Health Effects
Blood-brain barrier penetration and neuroinflammation, placental transfer and fetal exposure, mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA damage, cardiovascular disease (arterial plaque accumulation linked to increased MI and stroke risk), endocrine disruption, and direct intracellular toxicity in immune cells.
Detection Method
This toxin is detected and quantified using HRMS (LC or GC) analysis of isolated PBMCs. The intracellular accumulation of this compound in lymphocytes and monocytes provides a more accurate reflection of chronic systemic burden than conventional serum or urine testing.