Impact of urinary microplastic exposure on cognitive function in primary school children
Microplastic (MP) contamination is a growing environmental concern, with potential implications for human health. Emerging evidence suggests that MPs may interfere with neurodevelopment. However, the association of urinary microplastic exposure on cognitive function in children remain poorly underst...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325008772 |
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| author | Donghan Zheng Dan Wang Shuo Zhang Yan Liu Qi Xi Yang Weng |
| author_facet | Donghan Zheng Dan Wang Shuo Zhang Yan Liu Qi Xi Yang Weng |
| author_sort | Donghan Zheng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microplastic (MP) contamination is a growing environmental concern, with potential implications for human health. Emerging evidence suggests that MPs may interfere with neurodevelopment. However, the association of urinary microplastic exposure on cognitive function in children remain poorly understood. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the impact of urinary MPs exposure on cognitive development in 5670 primary school children (ages 7–10) from Shenyang, China. Microplastics, including polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), were measured in urine samples, and cognitive development was evaluated using computerized tasks that assessed working memory and attention. Urinary microplastic levels varied widely, with median concentrations of 15 n/100 mL for total microplastics. Linear mixed-effects models revealed significant negative associations between higher urinary PA, PP, and total MPs exposure with reduced working memory performance (PA: β = −9.98, p < 0.001; PP: β = −4.95, p = 0.01). The association remained significant for superior working memory, with PP and PVC showing significant negative effects (PP: β = −1.77, p = 0.02; PVC: β = −2.05, p = 0.01). Additionally, total MPs exposure was associated with increased inattentiveness, as indicated by higher reaction time variability (β = −1.83, p = 0.04). Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) analysis revealed a dose-dependent negative association between urinary microplastics exposure and cognitive development, with higher exposure levels linked to impaired working memory in both the Two-Back and Three-Back tasks, while no consistent association was observed with inattentiveness (HRT-SE). Generalized Quantile-Weighted Sum (gQWS), and Quantile g-computation (g-comp) analyses further supported the findings, with g-comp models showing a stronger effect on working memory (β = −9.80, p < 0.01) and superior working memory (β = −2.35, p < 0.01). These results highlight the potential harmful effects of microplastic exposure on cognitive outcomes in children. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-df93b08c10b14e7d950a04e73cb25803 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj-art-df93b08c10b14e7d950a04e73cb258032025-08-20T04:02:32ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-09-0130211853210.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118532Impact of urinary microplastic exposure on cognitive function in primary school childrenDonghan Zheng0Dan Wang1Shuo Zhang2Yan Liu3Qi Xi4Yang Weng5Department of Cardiology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, ChinaDepartment of Geriatric, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, ChinaDepartment of Geriatric, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, ChinaDepartment of Pain Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, ChinaDepartment of Pain Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China; Corresponding authors.Department of Digestive Endoscopy, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China; Corresponding authors.Microplastic (MP) contamination is a growing environmental concern, with potential implications for human health. Emerging evidence suggests that MPs may interfere with neurodevelopment. However, the association of urinary microplastic exposure on cognitive function in children remain poorly understood. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the impact of urinary MPs exposure on cognitive development in 5670 primary school children (ages 7–10) from Shenyang, China. Microplastics, including polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), were measured in urine samples, and cognitive development was evaluated using computerized tasks that assessed working memory and attention. Urinary microplastic levels varied widely, with median concentrations of 15 n/100 mL for total microplastics. Linear mixed-effects models revealed significant negative associations between higher urinary PA, PP, and total MPs exposure with reduced working memory performance (PA: β = −9.98, p < 0.001; PP: β = −4.95, p = 0.01). The association remained significant for superior working memory, with PP and PVC showing significant negative effects (PP: β = −1.77, p = 0.02; PVC: β = −2.05, p = 0.01). Additionally, total MPs exposure was associated with increased inattentiveness, as indicated by higher reaction time variability (β = −1.83, p = 0.04). Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) analysis revealed a dose-dependent negative association between urinary microplastics exposure and cognitive development, with higher exposure levels linked to impaired working memory in both the Two-Back and Three-Back tasks, while no consistent association was observed with inattentiveness (HRT-SE). Generalized Quantile-Weighted Sum (gQWS), and Quantile g-computation (g-comp) analyses further supported the findings, with g-comp models showing a stronger effect on working memory (β = −9.80, p < 0.01) and superior working memory (β = −2.35, p < 0.01). These results highlight the potential harmful effects of microplastic exposure on cognitive outcomes in children.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325008772MicroplasticsCognitive developmentChild developmentEnvironmental exposureUrinary biomarkers |
| spellingShingle | Donghan Zheng Dan Wang Shuo Zhang Yan Liu Qi Xi Yang Weng Impact of urinary microplastic exposure on cognitive function in primary school children Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Microplastics Cognitive development Child development Environmental exposure Urinary biomarkers |
| title | Impact of urinary microplastic exposure on cognitive function in primary school children |
| title_full | Impact of urinary microplastic exposure on cognitive function in primary school children |
| title_fullStr | Impact of urinary microplastic exposure on cognitive function in primary school children |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of urinary microplastic exposure on cognitive function in primary school children |
| title_short | Impact of urinary microplastic exposure on cognitive function in primary school children |
| title_sort | impact of urinary microplastic exposure on cognitive function in primary school children |
| topic | Microplastics Cognitive development Child development Environmental exposure Urinary biomarkers |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325008772 |
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