Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

10-2025

School/College

College of Science, Engineering, and Technology (COSET)

Degree Name

MS in Biology

Committee Chairperson

Dr. Shishir Shishodia

Committee Member 1

Dr. Shodimu-Emmanuel Olufemi

Committee Member 2

Dr. Ayodotun Sodipe

Committee Member 3

Dr. Daniel Vrinceanu

Abstract

Investigation of cytotoxic effects of 10μm polystyrene based microplastics on A549 lung cancer epithelial cell line utilized multiple in-vitro assays. Cell viability was analyzed and compared between the control and treated groups using MTT assay using three separate doses (25, 50, and 100 μL). Results indicated that dosage was not a factor, but mainly, a significant time dependency of exposure to microplastics for treated cells compared to control group. Live/Dead assay gave a visual representation of microplastic cytotoxic effects as over the course of three days there was an increase of dead cells withing the treated group, as confirmed by MTT assay. Oxidative Stress test using CellROX green reagent displayed large visible increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) in treated cells. It may suggest that oxidative stress maybe the underlying mechanism that leads to cytotoxicity when A459 cells become exposed to microplastics. Based on these results, it is evident that microplastics annihilates A549 cell viability by metabolic inhibition and increase of oxidative stress. Raman spectroscopy of dust samples was able to detect presence of microplastic spectra within the sample. This leads to possible pulmonary health risks as we inhale microplastic fibers on a daily basis from our clothing, carpet and risk as we inhale microplastic fibers on a daily basis from our clothing, carpet and multiple other sources. Even though this was an in-vitro study it gives us an idea what happens within our actual alveoli when inhaling microplastics.

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