Micro- and Nanoplastics May Harm Oocytes Through Oxidative Stress and Endocrine Disruption, Review Finds

Micro- and nanoplastics, tiny plastic fragments now recognized as widespread and persistent environmental contaminants, may pose previously underappreciated risks to female fertility by damaging oocytes, the cells central to reproductive function. That is the central conclusion of a review published in Cell Biology and Toxicology, which searched databases including PubMed and Web of Science and integrated findings from diverse animal models and human samples to summarize what is currently known about how these particles affect oocytes and the molecular mechanisms involved.

According to the review, micro- and nanoplastics can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact, and their potential effects on female reproductive health have drawn increasing attention. The authors report that these particles may impair oocyte development via oxidative stress, inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, endocrine disruption, and epigenetic modifications. These processes are associated with changes in several signaling pathways, including Wnt/β-catenin, NLRP3/caspase-1, TLR4/NF-κB, and PERK/eIF2α, and are linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, meiotic defects, chromosomal abnormalities, and impaired oocyte maturation.

The review also examined whether harm could extend beyond the directly exposed individual. Animal studies suggest that maternal exposure to micro- and nanoplastics may impair offspring development and reproductive function, pointing to possible intergenerational effects. However, the authors emphasize that evidence for true transgenerational effects, in which changes would persist in generations that were never directly exposed, remains limited. Distinguishing between these two categories of effect is a recurring challenge in this research area, and the review treats the transgenerational question as an open one rather than a settled finding.

A significant limitation highlighted by the authors is that most existing evidence comes from animal studies, many of which used standardized polystyrene particles. Although micro- and nanoplastics have been detected in human biological samples, the review states that their actual effects on human reproductive health remain to be clarified. The findings are therefore best understood as a map of plausible mechanisms and a research agenda, not as demonstrated clinical outcomes in humans.

By bringing together evidence on molecular pathways and on oocyte-level outcomes such as meiotic defects and impaired maturation, the review aims to support future work on how these ubiquitous particles might affect female reproductive function.

Subject of Research: Potential toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics to oocytes and the molecular mechanisms involved

Article Title: Micro- and nanoplastics-induced oocyte toxicity: molecular mechanisms and potential intergenerational and transgenerational risks

Article References: Xu, R., Li, X., Cheng, W., Chen, J., Cheng, R., Yang, L., & Zhang, Q. (2026). Micro- and nanoplastics-induced oocyte toxicity: molecular mechanisms and potential intergenerational and transgenerational risks. Cell Biology and Toxicology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10565-026-10327-4

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s10565-026-10327-4

Keywords: microplastics, nanoplastics, oocyte toxicity, female fertility, oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, epigenetics, mitochondrial dysfunction, polystyrene, transgenerational effects, Micro-, nanoplastics-induced