A Pilot Study of the Effect of Polystyrene Microplastics on Oxidative Status in Mice

Abstract

Microplastics environmental pollution and their impact on organisms' health are currently widely debated. This study aimed to determine the effects of polystyrene microplastics (PS–MPs) on lipid peroxidation (LPO) and glutathione (GSH) levels in the brain, liver, ovaries/ testes, kidneys, and lungs of mice. Sexually mature male and female albino mice were divided into control groups and groups exposed to 1 μm PS–MPs at a dose of 0.1 mg/24h, administered orally for 14 days. The results showed that in female mice PS–MPs administration led to significant increase of LPO in the kidneys and lungs. In contrast, in male mice, LPO was significantly decreased in the brain, liver, and kidneys. PS–MPs administration also led to significantly increased GSH concentrations in the liver in both male and female mice, and a decrease in the brain and testes in males. In conclusion, PS–MPs induced varying degrees of oxidative stress in male and female mice.