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Individual and combined exposures to polystyrene nanoplastics and benzophenone-3 induce developmental, behavioral and transcriptomic impairments in marine larval clownfish (Amphiprion frenatus)
Summary
Scientists exposed baby clownfish to tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) and a chemical found in sunscreen (benzophenone-3, or BP-3), both of which are common ocean pollutants. When combined, these two substances were more harmful than either alone—slowing growth, speeding up heart rates, and causing anxious, sluggish swimming behavior, likely by disrupting the fishes' internal body clocks and energy production. While this study was done in fish, it's a warning sign: these same pollutants are found in human bodies too, and this research suggests that everyday chemical exposures don't act alone—they may
Nanoplastics (NPs) and ultraviolet (UV) filter have been widely detected in marine environments and biological organisms, posing potential risks to ecosystems and human health. However, the combined effects of these two contaminants on aquatic larvae remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of single and mixture exposures to polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs, 50-100 nm) and benzophenone-3 (BP-3), on the growth, development, and neurobehavioral responses of larval clownfish. We also explored the potential mechanisms underlying behavioral changes after 120 h of exposure. The results indicate that combined exposure to PS-NPs and BP-3 increased larval mortality rates, significantly inhibited body length, and resulted in a marked increase in heart rate. Behavioral analyses revealed that both individual and combined exposures reduced the maximum swimming speed, with combined exposure additionally leading to pronounced anxiety-like behaviors. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that both individual and combined exposures resulted in a significant number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) compared with the control group, with 1753, 2747, and 2465 DEGs identified in the PS-NPs, BP-3, and combined exposure (CP) groups, respectively. Further analysis of KEGG pathways showed a significant enrichment of the "circadian rhythm" pathway, which may contribute to the observed behavioral changes in the larval. Additionally, the combined exposure led to significant enrichment of the "oxidative phosphorylation" pathway, suggesting that the juveniles might alter their activity behavior in response to an energy crisis, resulting in increased anxiety-like behaviors. These findings provide new insights into the potential risks posed by the combined exposure of PS-NPs and BP-3 to aquatic organisms.