We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Co-exposure to octocrylene and polystyrene nanoplastics induces neuro- and reproductive toxicity in zebrafish: Association with circadian rhythm and HPG axis disruption.
AI summary Read the abstract
Zebrafish exposed to both a sunscreen chemical (octocrylene) and tiny polystyrene plastic particles for 28 days showed worse brain and behavior effects, disrupted sleep-related genes, and more reproductive harm than those exposed to octocrylene alone. Hormone systems and gonad health were also affected, with offspring development impaired.
Octocrylene (OC) is a widely used ultraviolet filter frequently detected in aquatic environments. Micro- and nanoplastics (M/NPs) are persistent pollutants that can adsorb organic contaminants such as OC, leading to combined exposure risks. However, the long-term neuroendocrine effects of environmentally relevant co-exposure to OC and nanoplastics remain poorly understood. In this study, adult zebrafish were exposed to OC (5 µg/L) with or without polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs, 80 nm, 1.0 mg/L) for 28 days. Co-exposure to OC and PS-NPs significantly disrupted behavioral phenotypes, suppressed bdnf transcription, and downregulated core circadian clock genes (per1b, per2, per3, cry1a, cry2, nr1d1), indicating aggravated neurotoxicity. Furthermore, co-exposure interfered with sex hormone synthesis and caused gonadal damage by modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis at the transcriptional level, leading to more severe reproductive toxicity and impaired offspring development. Molecular docking revealed that OC may directly interact with estrogen receptors (ERα, ERβ) and CYP19, providing a molecular basis for endocrine disruption. These findings demonstrate that PS-NPs enhance the neurotoxic and reproductive effects of OC through circadian and HPG axis disruption, highlighting the need for considering nanoplastics as toxicity amplifiers in environmental risk assessment.
More Papers Like This
Interactive neurotoxicity of environmentally relevant concentrations of polystyrene nanoplastics and butyl methoxydibenzoyl methane on early zebrafish embryos
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics and the UV sunscreen chemical BM-DBM interact synergistically to cause neurotoxicity in zebrafish at environmentally relevant concentrations, disrupting nervous system development and gene expression more severely in combination than either pollutant alone.
The synergic toxicity of temperature increases and nanopolystrene on zebrafish brain implies that global warming may worsen the current risk based on plastic debris
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers combined a 1°C water temperature increase with polystyrene nanoplastic exposure in zebrafish and found synergistic disruption of circadian rhythms, brain metabolomics, and behavior — with Raman spectroscopy confirming nanoplastic accumulation in brain tissue — suggesting that global warming may substantially amplify the neurological risks of plastic nanoparticle pollution.
From cradle to grave: Deciphering sex-specific disruptions of the nervous and reproductive systems through interactions of 4-methylbenzylidene camphor and nanoplastics in adult zebrafish
AI summary Read the abstract
Adult zebrafish exposed to a common sunscreen chemical (4-MBC) combined with nanoplastics showed significant damage to both their nervous and reproductive systems, with effects that differed between males and females. The nanoplastics acted as carriers that increased the accumulation of the sunscreen chemical in brain and reproductive tissues. These combined effects were passed to the next generation, raising concerns about how cosmetic chemicals and plastic pollution together may affect long-term reproductive health.
Adverse effects of polystyrene nanoplastic and its binary mixtures with nonylphenol on zebrafish nervous system: From oxidative stress to impaired neurotransmitter system
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated the individual and combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and the industrial chemical nonylphenol on the zebrafish nervous system over 45 days. Both substances induced oxidative stress and disrupted neurotransmitter systems, with combined exposure generally producing more severe effects on glutamate metabolism and brain tissue damage. The study suggests that the interaction between nanoplastics and co-occurring environmental pollutants can amplify neurotoxic effects in fish.
Metabolic Consequences of Developmental Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics, the Flame Retardant BDE-47 and Their Combination in Zebrafish
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined how developmental exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and the flame retardant BDE-47, alone and combined, affects zebrafish metabolism, finding that co-exposure produced distinct metabolic disruptions beyond those caused by either contaminant individually.
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.