Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42198484›Full record

ReviewToxics2026

Microplastic Neurotoxicity in the Prefrontal Cortex: A Review of Mechanisms and Neuropsychiatric Associations.

Zixuan Liang, Enguo Zhang, Bing Han, Zhenhao Yang, Xiangjing Meng, Yu Zhang, Jiazi Ma, Ziyang Xu, Mengjie Cheng, Hua Shao and 1 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Toxics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Zixuan LiangShandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250062, China.
Enguo ZhangShandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250062, China.
Bing HanDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250062, China.
Zhenhao YangShandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250062, China.
Xiangjing MengShandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250062, China.
Yu ZhangShandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250062, China.
Jiazi MaShandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250062, China.
Ziyang XuShandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250062, China.
Mengjie ChengShandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250062, China.
Hua ShaoShandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250062, China.
Shangya ChenShandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250062, China.ORCID 0000-0002-7445-6698

Funding

Medical and Health Science and Technology Project of Shandong Province 202312010854, 202512040307Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province ZR2024QH001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The escalating crisis of plastic pollution has positioned microplastics (MPs) as globally pervasive environmental contaminants, with a documented presence across aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric ecosystems, as well as within biological organisms. A growing body of evidence suggests that MPs not only threaten ecological integrity but may also induce multifaceted neurotoxic effects in humans, particularly targeting the functional architecture of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). As the central regulator of cognition, emotional processing, and behavioral control, PFC dysfunction has been hypothesized to be associated with cognitive deficits, emotional dysregulation, and behavioral abnormalities. In this comprehensive review, we synthesize the current understanding of MP-mediated neurotoxicity through three interconnected pathways: (1) structural and functional impairment of PFC neural networks, (2) disruption of neurotransmitter homeostasis, and (3) potential associations with neuropsychiatric pathogenesis. By integrating these mechanistic insights, this work aims to provide a scientific foundation for risk assessment frameworks and evidence-based environmental health policies.

Indexed as

adrenergic receptorsmicroplasticsphenylacetylglutamineprefrontal cortex

Identifiers

PMID42198484
PMCPMC13211500

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.