Oxidative Damage and Intestinal Microbial Imbalance Induced by Polystyrene Microplastics and Cadmium in Zebrafish (Danio Rerio)

Oxidative damage and intestinal microbial imbalance induced by polystyrene microplastics and cadmium in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Physiological Alterations and Immune Modulation in Fish Exposed to Microplastics

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Researchers reviewed the physiological and immunological effects of microplastic exposure in fish, finding that these particles smaller than 5 mm induce a range of biological disruptions including immune modulation, oxidative stress, and systemic health impacts with broader implications for aquatic ecosystem integrity.

“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.