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Effects of microbeads and cadmium on oxidative stress and apoptosis in rockfish Sebastes schlegeli: comparison of single and combined environmental conditions
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Single and combined exposure of rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) to polystyrene microbeads and cadmium resulted in elevated accumulation in gills and intestines, increased liver oxidative stress, and significant apoptosis in combined-exposure fish compared to single-pollutant groups. The synergistic toxic effect demonstrates that microplastics acting as vectors for heavy metals amplify harm beyond either pollutant alone, with downstream implications for seafood safety and human dietary exposure.
With their hydrophobic properties, microplastics can disperse in water, carrying pollutants such as heavy metals, including cadmium (Cd), a non-essential metal that can cause oxidative stress and cell death in fish. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of single and combined exposure to polystyrene microbeads (MBs) and Cd on their accumulation, oxidative stress status, and apoptosis in Sebastes schlegeli. The results revealed that the accumulation of MBs and Cd in the gills and intestines increased, and the mRNA expression of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase, catalase, and cytochrome P450 family 1 subfamily A polypeptide 1 in the liver was confirmed. Furthermore, caspase-3 mRNA expression and TUNEL analyses demonstrated that liver H2O2 and plasma malondialdehyde levels and apoptosis significantly increased following combined MB and Cd exposure. The study suggests that the combination of hydrophobic MBs and Cd can increase their accumulation in S. schlegeli, leading to oxidative stress and apoptosis. This combination of external toxic substances, such as Cd, with microplastics can negatively impact aquaculture and potentially affect humans.
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Acute co-exposure to microbeads and cadmium enhances accumulation and alters plasma biochemical markers and stress indicators in Korean rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli
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Researchers found that combined acute exposure of Korean rockfish to microbeads and cadmium enhanced heavy metal accumulation in fish tissues more than cadmium alone, with microplastics facilitating metal adsorption and transport in ways that increase contaminant bioavailability.
“Biochemical impacts of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics and cadmium on Danio rerio under environmental conditions”
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Twenty-one-day exposures of zebrafish to PET microplastics—alone and combined with the heavy metal cadmium—caused oxidative protein damage and disrupted energy metabolism, with the mixture producing worse effects than either pollutant alone. This synergistic toxicity is significant because fish in real-world waterways encounter microplastics and heavy metals together, making combined-exposure studies critical for assessing actual ecological and food-safety risks.
Microbead-Mediated Enhancement of Bacterial Toxicity: Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Korean Rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli, Following Exposure to Streptococcus iniae
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Korean rockfish were co-exposed to polystyrene microbeads and the bacterium Streptococcus iniae for five days, and oxidative stress and apoptosis were measured in liver tissue. Combined high-dose exposure significantly elevated oxidative stress markers and caspase-3 expression compared to either stressor alone, suggesting microplastics may enhance bacterial infection severity.
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