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Antagonistic toxicity of nanoplastics and perfluorobutanoic acid to the behavior of black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii)
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Researchers studied the combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and the industrial chemical perfluorobutanoic acid on black rockfish behavior. While each pollutant alone caused behavioral problems like reduced swimming speed and social interaction, exposing fish to both together actually reduced the severity of behavioral disruption compared to the chemical alone. The findings reveal an unexpected antagonistic interaction, suggesting that pollutant mixtures in the ocean may not always produce additive harmful effects.
The combined effect of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and nanoplastics (NPs) on fish behavior is unclear. In the present study, PS NPs (65 nm, 1 mg/L) or perfluorobutyric acid (PFBA, 10 μg/L) alone caused behavioral disorders (e.g., reduced numbers of floats and sinks, numbers of chases, and swimming speed) of Sebastes schlegelii upon water exposure (14 days), while co-exposure of PS NPs and PFBA reduced the severity of behavioral disorders compared to PFBA alone. Additionally, PS NPs or PFBA significantly increased superoxide dismutase activity and malondialdehyde content, and decreased catalase activity of gut. However, this oxidative stress significantly reduced in the presence of both PS NPs and PFBA in comparison with PFBA alone. Moreover, PS NPs or PFBA also damaged the intestinal villi and epithelium. Notably, PFBA significantly decreased the muscular thickness and length-to-width ratio of intestinal villi, and reduced the diversity and network complexity of gut microbiota, causing more severe intestinal damage. Interestingly, PS NPs alleviated the intestinal damage and increased the gut microbial abundance induced by PFBA, thereby mitigating the toxic effect of PFBA on fish behavior. This study is essential for understanding the ecological and health risks of NPs and PFASs in aquatic environments.
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Complex combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and phenanthrene in aquatic models
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Researchers investigated the combined toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and the pollutant phenanthrene in fish cells and zebrafish larvae. They found that the interaction between nanoplastics and phenanthrene was complex and tissue-dependent, with nanoplastics increasing phenanthrene uptake in some cell types while decreasing it in others. Interestingly, zebrafish larvae experienced lower overall toxicity during co-exposure compared to single-pollutant exposure, suggesting the interaction dynamics are more nuanced than previously assumed.
Interactive effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonates on the histomorphology, oxidative stress and gut microbiota in Hainan Medaka (Oryzias curvinotus)
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Researchers exposed a freshwater fish species to nanoplastics and a fluorinated chemical pollutant, both alone and in combination, and found that the mixture caused more severe tissue damage than either substance alone. The combined exposure harmed gills, liver, and intestines while disrupting antioxidant systems and gut bacteria. The study suggests nanoplastics can worsen the effects of industrial chemicals on aquatic life.
The Effects of Single and Combined Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics and Copper on the Behavior of Adult Zebrafish
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Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics and copper ions affected zebrafish behavior when the fish were exposed to both pollutants simultaneously. The combination was more toxic than either pollutant alone, reducing the concentration needed to kill fish by up to 32%. Since nanoplastics and heavy metals commonly occur together in polluted water, their combined effects on aquatic life could increase the risks associated with consuming contaminated fish.
Bisphenol A decreases the developmental toxicity and histopathological alterations caused by polystyrene nanoplastics in developing marine medaka Oryzias melastigma
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Researchers found that bisphenol A unexpectedly decreased the developmental toxicity and histopathological damage caused by polystyrene nanoplastics in marine medaka embryos, suggesting complex antagonistic interactions between co-existing pollutants at environmentally relevant concentrations.
Combined toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics and 3,6-dibromocarbazole on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos
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Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene microplastics along with a brominated pollutant (3,6-dibromocarbazole) and found that the combination produced unexpected results. While each pollutant individually caused oxidative stress and cell death, together they actually reduced these effects -- an antagonistic interaction. However, the microplastics acted as carriers that increased the accumulation of the toxic chemical in the fish, potentially amplifying its longer-term dioxin-like toxicity.
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