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Integrated biomarker responses to dietary polypropylene microplastics in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) under simulated aquaculture conditions
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Scientists fed rainbow trout food containing tiny plastic particles (microplastics) for 45 days and found the fish grew more slowly, with the plastic causing stress and damage in their liver, brain, and other organs, effects that got worse with higher plastic doses and longer exposure. Since farmed trout is a common food fish, this research is an early warning sign that the growing amount of microplastic pollution could affect the health of fish we eat, though more research is needed to know exactly what this means for humans.
Microplastics (MPs) are prevalent contaminants in freshwater ecosystems; however, their effects on ecologically and economically important fish species, such as rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), remain poorly understood, particularly from an integrated biomarker perspective. This study evaluated the effects of dietary polypropylene microplastic (PP-MPs) exposure on growth performance, hematological parameters, and tissue-specific oxidative stress responses in O. mykiss. Fish were fed with diets containing 0% (control), 10% (10 PP), or 20% (20 PP) PP-MPs (w/w) for 45 days, with responses assessed at 15-day intervals (days 0, 15, 30, and 45). Growth performance (weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and specific growth rate) and hematological parameters (RBC, WBC, HGB, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and PLT) were evaluated. Oxidative stress, antioxidant defense, DNA damage, and apoptosis were assessed using SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, GSH, ROS, MDA, 8-OHdG, and Cas-3 in the brain, liver, gill, and muscle, while AChE activity was measured in brain tissue as a neurotoxicity biomarker. PP-MPs residues were detected in the gill and gastrointestinal tissues. Dietary PP-MPs exposure reduced growth performance in a dose- and time-dependent manner, while effects on the hepatosomatic index were transient and the viscerosomatic index remained unchanged. Multivariate analyses revealed significant effects of treatment and exposure duration, with an overall response pattern of liver > brain ≈ muscle > gill, indicating systemic but tissue-specific physiological responses. Biomarker responses were not uniformly significant across tissues, and the observed growth impairment may have been influenced by both PP-MPs-related physiological stress and minor dietary nutrient dilution.
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Microplastic-induced changes in the rainbow trout gut: Insights from transcriptomic, proteomic, and microbial approaches
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Scientists fed rainbow trout tiny plastic particles (from two common plastics, PE and PS) for six weeks and found real damage: gut bacteria balance was disrupted, digestive enzymes were suppressed, and stress and immune responses ramped up, effects that got worse with higher plastic doses. This matters because fish are a major food source and gut health, and this study shows microplastics can quietly harm digestion and immunity even without causing obvious, immediate illness, raising questions about what similar low-level exposure might do to other animals, including humans, over time.
Polystyrene microparticles can affect the health status of freshwater fish – Threat of oral microplastics intake
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Researchers fed juvenile rainbow trout polystyrene microplastics at three dietary concentrations for six weeks and assessed multiple health parameters. They found that the highest concentration triggered immune responses, liver and gill damage, disrupted antioxidant balance, and reduced plasma proteins. The study demonstrates that oral microplastic intake can negatively affect the health of freshwater fish across multiple organ systems.
Chronic exposure of mixed microplastics induces stress in Oreochromis niloticus
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Scientists exposed tilapia fish to microplastics for 30 days and found that higher doses caused real damage: liver problems, hormone imbalances, inflammation, and oxidative stress, plus plastic particles building up in their muscle tissue (the part we eat). This matters because it shows microplastic pollution isn't just an environmental nuisance, it can harm the health of fish we consume, raising questions about what long-term microplastic exposure might mean for people too.
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Fish fed diets containing common plastic particles (from PVC and polystyrene, found in packaging and household items) grew significantly slower, showed signs of cell stress, and had more DNA damage compared to fish without plastic exposure—and these effects got worse with higher plastic doses. Since these fish are a food source, this research is a reminder that microplastics polluting our waterways don't just harm aquatic life—they raise questions about what ends up on our plates, too.
Biochemical, Genotoxic and Histological Implications of Polypropylene Microplastics on Freshwater Fish Oreochromis mossambicus: An Aquatic Eco-Toxicological Assessment
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Researchers fed polypropylene microplastics to freshwater tilapia and found they caused oxidative stress, DNA damage, and liver tissue deterioration, with more severe effects after 14 days compared to acute 96-hour exposure. The microplastics disrupted antioxidant enzyme systems and neurotransmitter activity in the fish. The study demonstrates that prolonged microplastic ingestion poses a significant ecological threat to freshwater fish species.
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