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Genotoxic and Oxidative Damage of Environmental Pollutant Microplastics on Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Summary
Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics at different concentrations for up to 21 days to measure oxidative stress and DNA damage. The study found that both types of microplastics disrupted the antioxidant system and caused measurable DNA damage, with effects depending on dosage and exposure time. These results suggest that microplastics in waterways could pose genetic and cellular risks to aquatic life.
Microplastics are any synthetic solid particles or polymeric matrices ranging in size from 1 to 5 mm and insoluble in water. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE) microplastics on DNA damage (8-OHdG), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP μM/mg protein), malondialdehyde (MDA nmol/g tissue), and glutathione (GSH μmol/g tissue) in zebrafish. Zebrafish with an average length of 3-5 cm were placed in aquariums filled with spring water with 1-5-μm PE and 9.5-11.5-μm PS at 1- and 10-mg/L concentrations for 96 h and 21 days. The tissue levels of MDA exposed to 1-mg/L PS and PE (p = 0.008, p = 0.041) and GSH exposed to 1- and 10-mg/L PE (p = 0.004, p = 0.004) in 96 h were increased compared to the control group. GSH (1 and 10-mg/L PS in 21 days, p = 0.033, p = 0.045) and AOPP levels (1- and 10-mg/L PS in 96 h, p = 0.008, p < 0001) were decreased compared to the control group. DNA damage at 8-OHdG levels (96 h, 10-mg/L PS, p = 0.030) was decreased compared to the control and increased in the 1-mg/L PE at 21 days (p = 0.028). The 1- and 10-mg/L PE and PS microplastic doses were thought to affect the oxidant-antioxidant system. Besides, they may damage DNA in zebrafish, depending on the dosage and exposure time of the chemicals.