Textile-sourced micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) have recently emerged as environmental pollutants with increasing concern regarding their potential impact on human health, particularly through direct skin exposure. Despite growing awareness, their biological effects on skin cells and their possible role in cancer-related processes remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we investigated the cellular effects of textile-derived MNPs using in vitro models, including human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and human melanoma cells (WM266-4). Cells were exposed to varying concentrations of MNPs, and cytotoxicity was assessed using cell viability assays. Our results demonstrated that MNP exposure induced a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability in HaCaT cells, indicating potential cytotoxic effects on normal skin cells. In contrast, melanoma cells exhibited differential sensitivity to MNP treatment, suggesting distinct cellular responses between normal and cancerous cells. These findings indicate that textile-derived MNPs may exert cell-type–specific effects and could influence both skin toxicity and cancer-related cellular behavior. Overall, this study provides preliminary evidence highlighting the need for further investigation into the long-term physiological and pathological implications of chronic exposure to textile-derived micro- and nanoplastics.

Bonglee Kim, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Republic of Korea. He also serves as Dean of the Department of Cancer Preventive Material Development and Group Leader of the Korean Medicine-Based Cancer Research Center. He completed his PhD at Kyung Hee University and postdoctoral studies at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. With over 10 years of research experience, his work focuses on cancer biology and natural product-based therapeutics. He has published over 281 papers, organized international conferences including NUTRICON and HE-VITA, and serves as an editorial board member and guest editor for several SCI(E) journals.