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Flow-dependent modulation of microplastic toxicity in grass carp: Insights from multi-level biological endpoints and machine learning
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Researchers studied how water flow conditions affect microplastic toxicity in grass carp, finding that faster-moving water significantly worsened the harmful effects of polystyrene microplastics. Fish exposed to microplastics under high water velocity showed more severe gill damage, intestinal inflammation, immune system activation, and shifts in gut bacteria compared to still-water conditions. The study suggests that real-world flowing water environments may amplify the biological impact of microplastic pollution on freshwater fish.
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants in freshwater systems, yet how hydrodynamic conditions modulate their biological effects remains unclear. This study investigated the accumulation, histopathology, immune response, and gut microbiota disruption in Ctenopharyngodon idella exposed to 5 µm polystyrene MPs (1000 µg/L; ∼ 1.46 × 107 particles/L) under static conditions and water velocities of 1, 3, and 5 Body Lengths per second (BL/s), representing low, medium, and high flow. Water velocity alone caused notable tissue damage, including gill lesions and intestinal alterations, and significantly upregulated immune response genes, with the strongest responses observed at high flow. MPs accumulated in both gill and intestinal tissues, with highest concentration observed under high velocity flow. Combined exposure (MPs + flow) induced more severe effects, including gill necrosis, lamellar fusion, intestinal mucosal degeneration, inflammatory infiltration, and further immune gene upregulation, with IL-6 and TNF-α demonstrating the most substantial effect sizes (Cohen's d > 5). Gut microbiome evaluations indicated trends towards reduced alpha diversity and an elevation in pathogenic taxa in different groups, specifically with increased abundance of Aeromonas and Vibrio under the influence of combined stressors. Mediation analysis suggested a possible role for tissue damage in dysbiosis development, although wide confidence intervals precluded definitive conclusions. These initial findings indicate that hydrodynamic conditions alone can impact fish physiology and microbiota, and that flow can exacerbate MPs accumulation and toxicity through multiple biological pathways, emphasizing the imperative for extensive research efforts to confirm these relationships within aquatic ecological systems.
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Interactive effects of hydrodynamics and microplastics on bioaccumulation, histopathological alterations, biomarker responses, and gene expression in grass carp brain
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This study found that water flow conditions significantly affect how microplastics accumulate in fish brains, with faster-moving water increasing the uptake of polystyrene particles. Fish exposed to microplastics under high water velocity showed the most severe brain damage, oxidative stress, and changes in gene activity. The findings suggest that environmental conditions like water speed need to be considered when assessing the real-world risks of microplastic pollution to aquatic life and the food chain.
Hydrodynamics Increase Microplastics Bioaccumulation and Associated Neurotoxicity in Freshwater Fish Brain
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Grass carp fish were exposed to tiny polystyrene microplastics in water for seven days, under different water flow speeds. Fish exposed to microplastics combined with fast-flowing water showed the most microplastic buildup in the brain, along with more tissue damage and signs of chemical stress linked to nerve function.
Hydrodynamic modulation of microplastic bioaccumulation in edible fish: Integrating biomarker networks, machine learning, and food safety perspectives
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Scientists found that fish in faster-moving water absorb much more microplastic pollution than fish in still water, and these fish also showed more tissue damage and health problems. This matters because many of the fish we eat live in rivers and streams with flowing water, which means they could contain higher levels of harmful microplastics than previous studies suggested. The research shows we may be underestimating how much plastic pollution is getting into our seafood.
Effects of polystyrene microspheres on the swimming behavior and metabolism of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)
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Researchers exposed juvenile grass carp to polystyrene microspheres of different sizes and measured effects on swimming ability, metabolism, and oxidative stress. They found that smaller particles caused more severe impairment to swimming performance and triggered greater metabolic disruption over time. The study suggests that the size of microplastic particles matters significantly when assessing their potential harm to freshwater fish.
Adverse effects of polystyrene microplastics in the freshwater commercial fish, grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella): Emphasis on physiological response and intestinal microbiome
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Researchers exposed grass carp to different sizes and concentrations of polystyrene microplastics for up to 14 days, followed by a depuration period, and assessed physiological and intestinal microbiome effects. The study found that microplastics caused histological damage, oxidative stress, and shifts in gut microbial communities, with smaller particles and higher concentrations producing more severe effects.
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