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Pulse exposure to microplastics depolarizes the goldfish gill: Interactive effects of DOC and differential degradation
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This study exposed goldfish to pulse doses of microplastics and measured effects on gill membrane potential, finding that microplastics depolarized gill cells in ways that interacted with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) levels and varied by particle degradation state. The results suggest gill physiology is sensitive to microplastic exposure even at low doses.
Microplastics (MPs) are constantly degrading while moving through aquatic systems as a result of mechanical abrasion, thermal fluctuations, UV light, and chemical exposure. As such, fish may experience pulse exposures to differentially degraded plastics. This study addresses how pulse exposures, over the course of minutes, to differentially degraded microplastics alters a key ionoregulatory property of the goldfish gill. We used transepithelial potential (TEP) across the gills, a diffusion potential resulting from the differential permeability of cations versus anions, as a sensitive indicator of potential ionoregulatory effects. Virgin (non-degraded) MPs along with mechanically, UV, and thermally degraded plastics immediately depolarized the gills (less negative TEP), whereas chemically degraded MPs resulted in no change to TEP. To further explore the physicochemical interaction between the surface of the gill and MPs, combinations of MPs and a single source of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were tested and revealed that the presence of DOC negated the effects of MPs at the gill regardless of whether DOC or MPs were introduced first. This study suggests that while MPs have the ability to cause ionoregulatory effects at the gill, the effects of ambient water quality, specifically the presence of DOC, are of greater influence.
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Ecological Toxicity, Oxidative Stress and Impacts of Microplastics on Fish Gills
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This review summarizes research on how microplastic exposure damages fish gills, a critical organ for breathing, waste removal, and maintaining body chemistry. Researchers found that microplastics cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, and structural changes to gill tissue, which can impair blood parameters and overall fish health. The findings highlight that gill damage from microplastics may be a widespread concern for freshwater and marine fish populations.
Disturbing ion regulation and excretion in medaka (Oryzias melastigma) gills by microplastics: Insights from the gut-gill axis
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Researchers investigated the effects of three sizes of polystyrene microplastics on ion regulation and ammonia excretion in medaka fish gills. The study found that microplastics transiently disrupted sodium and potassium flux rates and affected gill function through a gut-gill axis, suggesting that microplastic accumulation in the digestive system can indirectly impact gill physiology.
Physiological Reactions of Poecilia Reticulyata to the Presence of Microplastics in the Aquatic Environment
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A study found that guppies exposed to low concentrations of microplastics showed physiological stress responses, including changes in blood cell counts and gill condition, suggesting even small doses can harm freshwater fish.
The effect of nano plastic toxicity on the gill tissue of goldfish (Carassius auratus)
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Researchers exposed goldfish to polystyrene nanoplastics at two concentrations over 20 days and found dose-dependent pathological damage to gill tissue — the organ responsible for both respiration and ion regulation — with structural degradation worsening as concentration and exposure duration increased.
Effects Of Microplastics On Fish Physiology
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This review examines how microplastic exposure affects fish physiology, covering accumulation patterns in different tissues, effects on organ function including liver and gill damage, antioxidant responses, and potential reproductive health consequences from both solo and combined contaminant exposures.
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