Long-Term Exposure to Real-Life Polyethylene Terephthalate Nanoplastics Induces Carcinogenesis In Vitro
Gutiérrez-García, Javier (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Egea, Raquel (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Barguilla, Irene (Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon)
Nymark, Penny (Institute of Environmental Medicine)
García-Rodríguez, Alba (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Guyot, Boris (Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon)
Maguer-Satta, Veronique (Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon)
Marcos Dauder, Ricardo (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Rubio Lorente, Laura (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Hernández Bonilla, Alba (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)

Date:	2025
Abstract:	Micro/nanoplastics (MNPLs) are environmental contaminants originating mainly from plastic waste degradation that pose potential health risks. Inhalation is a major exposure route, as evidenced by their detection in human lungs, with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) among the most abundant particles in respiratory airways. However, the harmful effects of particle bioaccumulation remain unclear, as chronic effects are understudied. To assess long-term effects, specifically carcinogenic effects, BEAS-2B cells were exposed to PET-NPLs for 30 weeks. Genotoxicity, carcinogenic phenotypic hallmarks, and a panel of genes and pathways associated with cell transformation and lung cancer were examined and compared across three exposure durations. No significant effects were observed after 24 h or 15 weeks of exposure. However, a 30-week exposure led to increased genotoxic damage, anchorage-independent growth, and invasive potential. Transcriptomic analysis showed the upregulation of several oncogenes and lung cancer-associated genes at the end of the exposure. Further analysis revealed an increase in differentially expressed genes over time and a temporal gradient of lung cancer-related genes. Altogether, the data suggest PET-NPLs' potential carcinogenicity after extended exposure, highlighting serious long-term health risks of MNPLs. Assessing their carcinogenic risks under chronic scenarios of exposure is crucial to addressing knowledge gaps and eventually developing preventive policies.
Grants:	European Commission 965196 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2020-116789RB-C43 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2021/SGR-00731 Agencia Estatal de Investigación IJC2020-2686I European Commission 801370
Note:	Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Nanoplastics (NPLs) ; Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) ; Carcinogenicity ; Respiratory toxicity ; Chronic exposure ; New approach methodologies (NAMs) ; Human health risk
Published in:	Environmental science & technology, Vol. 59, Issue 22 (June 2025) , p. 10891-10904, ISSN 0013-936X

DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5c01628
PMID: 40452141

14 p, 5.1 MB

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