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Combined toxicity effects of virgin/aged polyacrylonitrile microfibers and copper on fish Carassius auratus gibelio
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Gibel carp exposed to polyacrylonitrile microfibers and copper for 21 days showed that the two pollutants together caused greater damage to antioxidant defenses, liver function, and gut immunity than either alone. This highlights how microplastics interact with heavy metals already in waterways, compounding the toxic burden on fish and signaling broader risks for aquatic food chains.
The widespread production and use of plastic products have highlighted the ecological risks of microplastics (MPs). MPs, mainly as microfibers (MFs), can carry various pollutants, and their properties may change over time, potentially affecting their interactions with pollutants. This study aims to compare the combined toxicity effects of virgin and aged MFs with the common heavy metal copper (Cu). Gibel carp Carassius auratus gibelio were exposed to 1 mg/L of virgin and aged polyacrylonitrile MFs (PanMfs) separately and in combination with Cu (0.5-mg/L copper sulfate) for 21 d. Results show that both aged and virgin PanMfs significantly reduced Cu accumulation in gibel carp, with no notable difference. Cu adversely affected the carp’s intestine and liver, while PanMfs alone had minimal histological impact but notably mitigated intestinal damage caused by Cu. Enzyme activity and gene expression analysis indicated that both PanMfs and Cu exposure, alone or combined, compromised gibel carp’s antioxidant capacity, digestive and liver functions, induced inflammation, and affected liver metabolism and intestinal immune response. Integrated biomarker response analysis of enzyme activity and gene expression showed that combined Cu and PanMfs exposure had a stronger impact on gibel carp than individual exposure. However, whether exposed individually or in combination, aged PanMfs had a slightly greater impact than virgin PanMfs. This study showed that PanMfs alone exhibit minimal toxic effects on gibel carp but significantly modify Cu toxicity, with negligible differences between aged and virgin PanMfs except for slight disparities in enzyme activity and gene expression.
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Embryotoxicity of microplastics, isolated and associated with copper, in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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Zebrafish embryo experiments showed that microplastics strongly adhere to the embryonic chorion and, when combined with copper, cause significant delays in hatching and reduced heart rate in developing larvae. These results demonstrate that microplastics act as vectors enhancing metal co-exposure during critical developmental windows, raising concerns about synergistic toxic effects in vertebrates from combined microplastic and heavy metal exposure.
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Researchers exposed zebrafish to microplastics and copper individually and in combination over 14 days, finding that combined exposure caused the most severe histological damage across multiple organ systems including skin, gills, intestine, liver, and kidneys, while microplastic excretion rates declined over time and copper tissue levels were unaffected by co-exposure.
A Review on Co-Occurrence of Microplastics and Flame Retardants in Global Aquatic Environment with A Focus on Microfibers: Sources and Impacts on Their Toxic Effects
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Researchers reviewed how microplastic fibers released from synthetic textiles co-occur with flame retardant chemicals in aquatic environments, finding that microfibers can absorb and transport these toxic compounds, potentially amplifying their effects on aquatic organisms and the humans who eat them.
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