We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Particle Type- and Morphology-Associated Neurotoxicity of Microplastics and Nanoplastics via Divergent PPARγ Modulation in Zebrafish
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists exposed young zebrafish to two common types of plastic pollution, tiny round beads and tiny fibers, and found both harmed brain development and movement, but the fiber-shaped particles caused worse effects and got stuck in the gut longer. The two shapes even disrupted a key metabolism-related gene in opposite ways, meaning a drug that helped fix damage from round particles actually made things worse for fiber exposure. This suggests that not all microplastics are equally risky, and their shape, not just their chemical makeup, matters for understanding how they might affect health.
Fibrous microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) dominate many environmental matrices, yet laboratory toxicology largely relies on spherical models. Here, we developed a 405 nm bioimaging strategy enabling autofluorescence-free tracking of spherical polystyrene (PS, 200 nm) and fibrous polyacrylonitrile (PAN, 3-5 μm) in zebrafish larvae. Both particle types accumulated in the head and alimentary tract, but fibrous PAN exhibited preferential retention in the posterior intestine. At matched mass concentrations (200-400 μg/mL), both particles impaired neurodevelopment and locomotor behavior, with fibers inducing more pronounced deficits. Transcriptomic profiling identified PPAR signaling as a shared enriched pathway, yet revealed divergent regulation of pparg: PS downregulated, whereas PAN upregulated its expression. These opposing transcriptional responses were accompanied by contrasting lipid phenotypes and stronger inflammatory responses under fiber exposure. Pharmacological modulation with the well-established PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone differentially altered toxicity, rescuing behavioral deficits in PS-exposed larvae while exacerbating effects in PAN-exposed larvae, consistent with direction-dependent disruption of PPARγ homeostasis. Together, these findings indicate particle type- and morphology-associated neurotoxicity and support integration of these physical properties into environmental hazard evaluation.
More Papers Like This
Accumulation of different shapes of microplastics initiates intestinal injury and gut microbiota dysbiosis in the gut of zebrafish
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed zebrafish to three different shapes of microplastics and found that fibers and fragments accumulated more in the gut than beads, causing greater intestinal injury and disruption of gut bacteria. The shape of the microplastic particles significantly influenced both how much accumulated and the severity of the biological harm. The study suggests that microplastic shape is an important factor in assessing their environmental and health risks.
Differentiation in the expression of toxic effects of polyethylene-microplastics on two freshwater fish species: Size matters
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed zebrafish and perch to two sizes of polyethylene microplastics for 21 days and found that smaller particles were more toxic, accumulating primarily in the liver while larger ones concentrated in the gills. Both sizes triggered oxidative stress, DNA damage, and activated cell death pathways in both species. The study demonstrates that microplastic particle size is a key factor in determining where the particles end up in fish tissues and how severely they cause harm.
Toxicities of microplastic fibers and granules on the development of zebrafish embryos and their combined effects with cadmium
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers compared the toxicity of polyethylene terephthalate microplastic fibers versus granules on zebrafish embryo development, and examined their combined effects with cadmium. They found that fibrous microplastics caused more severe developmental abnormalities than granular particles, and both forms enhanced cadmium toxicity when present together. The study suggests that microplastic shape is an important factor in toxicity assessments and that fiber-shaped particles may pose greater risks to aquatic organisms.
Interplay of Morphology and Polymer Composition Drives Estuarine Fate and Food Web Distribution of Nanoplastics: Evidence from a Multitrophic Mesocosm Using Upconversion Nanoparticle Tracers
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists tested how two shapes of nanoplastics, tiny spheres versus tiny fibers, move through an estuary ecosystem, and found that fiber-shaped plastic sinks fast and builds up in fish liver tissue, while round particles cycle through the water and settle more evenly across shellfish and plants. This matters because most safety studies use round plastic beads as stand-ins, but this research suggests fibers (a very common form of real-world plastic pollution) may pose a bigger risk to fish, and potentially the people who eat them, than current testing methods capture.
The toxic effects of exposure to fibrous and fragmented microplastic in juvenile rockfish based on two omics approach
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers fed juvenile rockfish two different shapes of PET microplastics (fibers versus fragments) and found that fibrous microplastics caused stronger inflammatory and oxidative stress responses than fragments. Both shapes affected the fish's immune system and liver metabolism, but through different biological pathways. Since fiber-shaped microplastics are the most common type found in the environment, these findings suggest that the real-world health impacts on fish and the humans who eat them may be greater than studies using only plastic fragments would predict.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.