Affiliation:
1. Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
2. Istituto Clinico Polispecialistico C.O.T., Cure Ortopediche Traumatologiche s.p.a., 98124 Messina, Italy
3. Department of Electronic Engineering, Industrial Chemistry and Engineering, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
Abstract
Airborne micro- and nanoplastics are widely spread and pose a risk to human health. The third polymer plastic most commonly produced and present in atmospheric fallout is polystyrene (PS). For these reasons and for a more realistic assessment of biological effects, we examined in-home oxidised (ox-, simulating photoaging) nPS/mPS (0.1 and 1 μm), comparing the effects with virgin ones (v-). On human alveolar cells (A549), we quantified the cellular uptake, using FITC-functionalised nPS/mPS, while cytotoxicity, changes in the acidic compartment, ROS production, mitochondrial function, and DNA damage were assessed to study the effects of internalised v- and ox-nPS/mPS. The results showed that the uptake was dose-dependent and very fast (1 h), since, at the lowest dose (1.25 µg/well), it was 20.8% and 21.8% of nPS and mPS, respectively. Compared to v-, significant ROS increases, DNA damage, and mitochondrial impairment were observed after exposure to ox-nPS/mPS. The enhancement of effects due to environmental aging processes highlighted the true potential impact on human health of these airborne pollutants.
Subject
Chemical Health and Safety,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis,Toxicology