We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Evaluating the Hepatotoxicity of Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics in Ducks: Oxidative andFibrotic Outcomes
Summary
Researchers fed ducks low and high doses of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics for two months and found that the particles accumulated in the liver, causing fat buildup, scarring, and cell death — similar to fatty liver disease in humans — suggesting plastic pollution may harm bird liver health in ways previously only studied in mammals.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease that is common world-wide and studied extensively in mammals.Nevertheless, the pathways of NAFLD associated liver damage in the digestive tracts of birds remain unclear.In this study, 7-day-old female Muscovy ducks of the same batch were split into three groups and were fed pure water, 1mg/L polyvinyl chloride microplastics (PVC-MPs) or 10mg/L PVC-MPs, respectively, for 2 months.This study aimed to verify whether oxidative stress originated from PVC-MPs resulted in NAFLD in duck liver, thus triggering apoptosis in hepatocytes.The results of the study proved that the accumulation of PVC-MPs in liver had adverse effects on the morphological structure and functional performance of liver cells.This finding was supported by a decrease of liver organ coefficient and pathological injury to liver cells, as well as ultrastructural injury.Oxidative stress injury in the liver of female breeding duck induced the deficiency of PCK1 and activated PI3K/AKT pathway, which resulted in fatty deposition and fibrosis in the liver and led to hepatocyte apoptosis.In conclusion, PVC-MPs induced hepatic oxidative damage, hepatic lipid deposition and hepatic tissue fibrosis, and hence hepatic apoptosis.Our research provides new perspectives on the association of PVC-MPs with liver toxicity in female duck that contains hepatic dysfunction, mainly NAFLD.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Co-exposure of polyvinyl chloride microplastics with cadmium promotes nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in female ducks through oxidative stress and glycolipid accumulation
Researchers found that female ducks exposed to both PVC microplastics and cadmium together developed nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, with the combination being worse than either pollutant alone. The co-exposure caused oxidative stress and abnormal fat and sugar buildup in the liver. This study is relevant to human health because people are also exposed to microplastics and heavy metals simultaneously, and the combined effects may be more damaging than exposure to either one individually.
Effects of Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics on the Growth Rate, Liver Enzyme, and Serum Metabolites of Cirrhinus mrigala
Scientists found that plastic particles in water seriously harm fish by damaging their liver and slowing their growth. Since we eat fish and plastic pollution affects the entire food chain, this research suggests that microplastics could eventually impact human health too. The more plastic particles in the water, the sicker the fish became, which is concerning because plastic pollution in our waterways keeps getting worse.
Transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis reveals hepatic lipid metabolism disruption in Japanese quail under polystyrene microplastics exposure
Researchers fed Japanese quail polystyrene microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations for 35 days and analyzed liver effects using transcriptomics and metabolomics. Low doses caused increased food intake and weight gain with liver lipid accumulation, while high doses led to decreased intake and weight loss, suggesting a hormetic dose-response pattern. The study found that microplastic exposure disrupted hepatic lipid metabolism pathways and caused liver oxidative stress in birds.
Oral exposure to polyethylene microplastics induces inflammatory and metabolic changes and promotes fibrosis in mouse liver.
Mice fed polyethylene microplastics in their food for 6 to 9 weeks developed liver inflammation, metabolic disruption, oxidative stress, and increased cell growth in the liver. The microplastics also worsened liver scarring (fibrosis) when tested in mice with pre-existing liver damage. This is the first study to show that ingesting polyethylene, the most common type of plastic, can directly damage the mammalian liver and could worsen existing liver conditions.
Kidney and Liver Disorders Due to Microplastic Exposure: Chronic in Vivo Study in Male White Rats
Male white rats were chronically exposed to microplastics (particles 5 mm or smaller) to assess kidney and liver toxicity, with exposure resulting from environmental weathering and ultraviolet irradiation of plastic materials. The study found measurable histopathological and biochemical damage in both organs, confirming that long-term microplastic exposure causes organ-level injury in mammals.