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Sex- and size-dependent impacts of tire wear particles and zinc oxide nanoparticles on adult zebrafish: integrated evidence from physiology, gut microbiota networks, and hepatic transcriptomics
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Tiny bits of tire dust and zinc nanoparticles (found in sunscreens and other products) that wash into rivers and lakes can harm fish, and this study found that smaller particles and combinations of pollutants caused more damage—especially in females—by disrupting gut bacteria and liver function. While this research was done in zebrafish, it's a warning sign: as tire particles and nanoparticles increasingly pollute our water systems, their combined effects may be more harmful than scientists previously realized, and sex differences in vulnerability deserve more attention in pollution research overall.
The co-occurrence of tire wear particles (TWPs) and engineered nanoparticles in aquatic environments raises concerns about their combined impacts on freshwater biota. Here, we assessed sex- and size-dependent responses of adult zebrafish following 15-day exposure to control conditions, ZnO-NPs (760 μg/L), large TWPs (LTWPs, 250-380 μm; 10 mg/L), small TWPs (STWPs, <120 μm; 10 mg/L), and co-exposure treatments combining ZnO-NPs with either LTWPs or STWPs. Across endpoints, females were more sensitive than males, showing broader reductions in growth-related and organ-somatic indices. Small TWPs generally induced broader and stronger adverse effects than larger TWPs, and combined exposure to TWPs and ZnO-NPs was associated with stronger physiological and oxidative-stress responses in selected endpoints, particularly in females. Gut microbiota analyses revealed sex-dependent community restructuring, with the female co-exposure group showing a more fragmented interaction network. Female hepatic transcriptomics revealed a graded molecular response across the selected exposure scenarios, characterized by a shared stress-response core together with exposure-specific signatures related to innate immune regulation, apoptosis, proteostasis, and mitochondrial bioenergetic remodeling. WGCNA of the female hepatic transcriptome identified an immune-associated hepatic module that covaried with exposure-responsive gut bacterial genera, which were further associated with antioxidant responses and reduced body or liver weight, supporting coordinated, correlation-based multi-organ and microbiota-associated signatures under particulate stress. Collectively, these findings highlight the importance of particle size, co-exposure context, and sex-specific susceptibility in shaping the toxicity of traffic-derived particulate contaminants in freshwater organisms.
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Size-dependent ecotoxicological impacts of tire wear particles on zebrafish physiology and gut microbiota: Implications for aquatic ecosystem health
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Researchers found that tire wear particles, a major but often overlooked source of microplastic pollution, affect zebrafish health differently depending on particle size. Smaller particles caused more severe gut microbiome disruption, oxidative stress, and immune responses, suggesting that tire-derived microplastics in waterways may pose a greater health risk to aquatic life than previously recognized.
Tire wear particle leachate-induced hepatotoxicity in Carassius auratus: Associations with gut microbiota dysbiosis and lipid metabolism disorder
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Chemicals leaching from tire wear particles (tiny bits of rubber that wash off roads into waterways) caused liver damage, gut bacteria imbalances, and disrupted fat metabolism in fish exposed to environmentally realistic levels over 28 days. While this study was done in fish, not humans, it's a warning sign worth watching, tire particles are a widespread and growing pollutant in our water systems, and this research suggests they could harm the health of aquatic life we may eventually eat or interact with, making it worth understanding how these hidden pollutants move through the environment.
Co-exposure to microplastics and tire particles exacerbates oxidative stress and gut microbiome dysbiosis in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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Researchers exposed zebrafish for 21 days to environmentally relevant mixtures of microplastics and tire particles and found that combined exposure caused more severe oxidative stress and gut microbiome disruption than either pollutant alone. Particle accumulation occurred mainly in the gut with secondary deposition in the liver, and the most pronounced tissue damage was observed under the highest combined exposure. Gut microbiota analysis revealed significant shifts in community structure, including reduced beneficial bacteria and increased pollutant-tolerant species.
Size- and duration-dependent toxicity of heavy vehicle tire wear particles in zebrafish
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Researchers exposed zebrafish to heavy vehicle tire wear particles of two sizes over 15 and 90 days, finding that smaller particles triggered broader systemic stress and gut microbiota dysbiosis while larger particles caused more localized damage, and that both sizes produced transgenerational effects including impaired offspring growth and disrupted growth hormone signaling.
Polystyrene nanoplastics alter intestinal toxicity of 2,4-DTBP in a sex-dependent manner in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene nanoplastics combined with an industrial chemical called 2,4-DTBP and found that the toxic effects on the intestines differed between males and females. In males, the nanoplastics made the chemical's gut damage worse, while in females the combination actually reduced harm compared to the chemical alone. The study highlights that sex-specific biological differences can significantly change how organisms respond to combined plastic and chemical pollution.
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