Cross-organ multilayered biological perturbations driven by food chain-transferred microplastics: implications for mammalian health effects and risks

Abstract

Microplastic pollution has emerged as a global environmental and health concern. To elucidate its realistic biological impact, this study established a food chain‑transferred exposure model using polystyrene microplastics, from mealworms to mice. Multimodal analyses of six organs revealed extensive microplastic accumulation and systemic toxicity after exposure. Key molecular interactions involving ADA, APOE, CAT, COL1A1, FAS, HLA‑DQB1, ITGB3, NFE2L2, NFKBIA, NQO1, SERPINE1, TNFRSF1A, VEGFA, CCR2, and HLA‑DQA1 collectively linked oxidative, immune, fibrotic, and metabolic pathways, forming an integrated cross‑organ toxicity network. These findings demonstrate that food chain‑transferred microplastics induce multi‑layered biological perturbations rather than isolated organ damage, providing new insight into the health hazards of environmental microplastics and highlighting the urgency of long‑term ecological risk assessment.