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Polystyrene nanoplastics amplify the toxic effects of PFOA on the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)
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Nanoplastics amplified the toxic effects of PFOA (a "forever chemical") in Chinese mitten crabs, worsening oxidative stress, immune disruption, and intestinal inflammation beyond what either pollutant caused alone. The combination disrupted fat metabolism and triggered cell death pathways, demonstrating how two common environmental contaminants can interact to create greater health risks in organisms that humans consume as food.
Nanoplastics (NPs), the final form of degraded microplastics in the environment, can adsorb PFOA (an emerging organic pollutant in recent years) in several ways. Current research on these has focused on bony fishes and mollusks, however, the combined toxicity of PFOA and NPs remains unknown in Eriocheir sinensis. Therefore, the effects of single or combined exposure to PFOA and NPs were investigated. The results showed that NPs aggravated PFOA exposure-induced oxidative stress, serum lipid disorders, immune responses, and morphological damage. DEGs altered by NPs-PFOA exposure were predominantly enriched in GO terms for cell lumen, and organelle structure, and KEGG terms for spliceosome and endocrine disorders-related diseases. Notably, the apoptotic pathway plays a central role enriched under different exposure modes. PFOA or NPs-PFOA exposure disrupted the levels of lipids molecules-related metabolites by mediating the glycerophospholipid pathway, and the NPs mediated the ferroptosis pathway to exacerbate PFOA-induced metabolic toxicity. In addition, NPs exacerbated the inflammatory response and metabolic imbalance by mediating Fusobacterium ulcerans in the intestinal. In conclusion, this study provides a valuable reference for the characterization of NPs-PFOA combined pollution and a scientific basis for the development of environmental protection policies and pollution management strategies.
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Effect of polystyrene nanoplastics on cell apoptosis, glucose metabolism, and antibacterial immunity of Eriocheir sinensis
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Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics caused cell apoptosis, disrupted glucose metabolism, and weakened antibacterial immunity in Chinese mitten crabs, with combined nanoplastic and bacterial exposure producing synergistic toxic effects.
Enhanced uptake of perfluorooctanoic acid by polystyrene nanoparticles in Pacific oyster (Magallana gigas)
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Researchers found that polystyrene nanoparticles significantly enhanced the uptake of the toxic chemical PFOA in Pacific oysters. The presence of 20 nm nanoparticles increased PFOA absorption by up to 3.2-fold and amplified PFOA-induced oxidative stress by 3-fold, suggesting that nanoplastics can act as carriers that worsen the effects of other environmental contaminants in marine organisms.
Polystyrene NPs reshape PFOA-driven mitochondrial redox balance, pentose phosphate-nucleotide metabolism, and membrane lipid remodeling in Cipangopaludina cathayensis
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Scientists studying freshwater snails found that a "forever chemical" called PFOA (used in nonstick coatings and waterproofing) damages cells' energy-producing mitochondria, causing oxidative stress and cell death. Surprisingly, adding nanoplastics to the mix didn't make the damage worse—instead, it changed *how* the cells responded, shifting the chemical processes and cell membrane changes involved. This matters because PFOA and nanoplastics are both common pollutants in water and food supplies, and understanding how they interact helps researchers better predict real-world health risks rather than assuming pollutants sim
The effects of a polystyrene nanoplastic on the immune response and gut microbiota of Eriocheir sinensis and its post-recovery state
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Researchers exposed Chinese mitten crabs to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that 48-hour exposure suppressed immune enzyme activity, elevated pathogen abundance in the gut microbiome, and damaged the hepatopancreas — with tissue damage persisting after 7 days of recovery even as gut nanoplastics were cleared.
Polystyrene microplastics increase Pb bioaccumulation and health damage in the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis
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Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics significantly increased the accumulation of lead in the tissues of Chinese mitten crabs when both pollutants were present together. The combined exposure caused more severe oxidative stress, disrupted fat metabolism, and increased liver damage compared to lead exposure alone. The study suggests that microplastics can act as carriers for heavy metals in aquatic environments, amplifying their toxic effects on commercially important seafood species.
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