We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Trophic transfer induced gut inflammation, dysbiosis, and inflammatory pathways in zebrafish via Artemia franciscana: A differential analysis of nanoplastic toxicity
AI summary Read the abstract
This study showed that nanoplastics transferred through the food chain — from brine shrimp to zebrafish — caused gut inflammation, disrupted the intestinal barrier, and shifted gut bacteria toward harmful species. Different types of nanoplastics activated different inflammatory pathways, but all caused damage. The findings are relevant to human health because they demonstrate how nanoplastics can become more concentrated and harmful as they move up the food chain toward the seafood we eat.
Rising glbal population and plastic consumption have caused a dramatic increase in plastic waste, leading to micro- and nanoplastic ingestion by aquatic organisms and subsequent bioaccumulation in their tissues. This transfer to higher trophic levels raises nanoplastic concentrations and bioavailability, potentially harming organisms' health and development. This poses a risk to human health via seafood. To address these issues, this study assesses the toxicological impacts of nanoplastics (NPs) on brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) and their trophic transfer to zebrafish. The research unveiled concentration-dependent bioaccumulation of NPs in zebrafish and Artemia franciscana (A. franciscana). Polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) exhibited higher accumulation in A. franciscana whereas PP-NPs showed greater accumulation in zebrafish gut. Histopathological analysis under PS-NPs exposure revealed significant tissue alterations, indicative of inflammatory responses and impaired mucosal barrier integrity. Gene expression analyses confirmed these findings, showing activation of the P38-MAPK pathway by PS-NPs, which correlated with increased inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, PE-NPs activated the JNK-MAPK pathway, while PP-NPs exposure triggered the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway. Moreover, the composition of gut microbiota shifted to a dysbiotic state, characterized by an increase in pathogenic bacteria in the PS-NPs and PP-NPs groups, elevating the risk of developing Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). PS-NPs were regarded as the most toxic due to their lower stability and higher aggregation tendencies, followed by PP-NPs and PE-NPs. Taken together, the overall study highlighted the complex interactions between NPs, gut microbiota, and host health, emphasizing the importance of thoroughly assessing the ecological and physiological impacts of nanoplastic pollution.
More Papers Like This
Caught in Fish Gut: Uptake and Inflammatory Effects of Nanoplastics through Different Routes in the Aquatic Environment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how nanoplastics accumulate in zebrafish intestines through different exposure routes, including waterborne, foodborne, and combined pathways. They found that while foodborne exposure led to higher particle accumulation, both routes caused similar levels of intestinal inflammation and immune disruption. The study suggests that current risk assessments based on single-route exposure may underestimate the true danger of nanoplastic pollution in aquatic environments.
Sub-acute exposure to nanoplastics via two-chain trophic transfer: From brine shrimp Artemia franciscana to small yellow croaker Larimichthys polyactis
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied the trophic transfer of nanoplastics from brine shrimp to small yellow croaker fish over an eight-day feeding experiment. The fish exposed to nanoplastics through their prey showed inhibited growth, severe liver damage, and impaired swimming ability. The study demonstrates that nanoplastics can accumulate through marine food chains and cause measurable harm to predator species.
Trophic transfer and individual impact of nano-sized polystyrene in a four-species freshwater food chain
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers traced nano-sized polystyrene plastics through a four-species freshwater food chain — from algae to water fleas to two fish species — finding that nanoplastics transferred at each level and caused reduced activity, liver damage in fish, and penetration into fish embryos. The results highlight the broad ecological and health risks of nanoplastics moving up through aquatic food webs.
Impacts of polystyrene nanoplastics on zebrafish gut microbiota and mechanistic insights
AI summary Read the abstract
Zebrafish exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics showed significant changes in their gut bacteria, with beneficial species like Bifidobacterium declining and potentially harmful bacteria increasing. The nanoplastics physically entered intestinal tissues, causing visible damage to gut cells. This study is relevant to human health because our gut microbiome plays a key role in immunity and digestion, and similar disruption from nanoplastic exposure could contribute to digestive and immune problems.
Trophic transfer of micro- and nanoplastics and toxicity induced by long-term exposure of nanoplastics along the rotifer (Brachionus plicatilis)-marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) food chain
AI summary Read the abstract
In a food chain study, researchers found that the smallest nanoplastics (70 nm) accumulated in fish at nearly double the rate of larger microplastics when passed through a prey organism first. Long-term exposure through the food chain caused liver inflammation, disrupted fat and energy metabolism, and impaired reproduction in the fish. This shows how tiny plastics can build up and cause harm as they move through the food web, which is relevant to humans who eat seafood.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.