Short-term exposure to nanoplastics alters expression of tspo and miR-22-3p in the brain of Danio rerio

Simulated Environmental Nanoplastics Induce Zebrafish Developmental Toxicity and Stress Response

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Scientists exposed zebrafish embryos to nanoplastics that were specially broken down to mimic how plastic actually degrades in oceans and rivers, and found they caused more harm than the lab-made plastic beads typically used in research, stunting growth, slowing hatching, and triggering stress hormone spikes even at very low doses. Because these effects showed up at concentrations similar to what's found in real water sources, the findings suggest current safety testing may be underestimating the risks nanoplastics pose to both aquatic life and, potentially, to people who drink that water or eat seafood from it.

Toxicity of nano- and microplastics on marine and freshwater fish: A multi-scale perspective from organ systems to cells

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This review pulls together existing studies showing that tiny plastic particles (micro- and nanoplastics) can build up in fish, damaging their gut, gills, heart, brain, and immune system by causing inflammation and cellular stress. While this research was done in fish, it matters for us too, since these plastics are widespread in water and seafood, and fish share many biological similarities with humans, meaning our bodies could face similar risks from ongoing plastic exposure.

Nanoplastics disrupt Thyroid Hormone Homeostasis and Neurodevelopment in Zebrafish: A Systems-Level Assessment

Nanoplastic-Induced Biological Effects In Vivo and In Vitro: An Overview

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Researchers reviewed how nanoplastics accumulate in and harm living organisms, finding that particle size, surface charge, exposure dose, and duration all influence toxicity — with smaller, charged particles penetrating cells more readily and chemical additives amplifying harm beyond the plastics themselves.

Microplastics and nanoplastics in human health: a comprehensive review of exposure pathways, cellular mechanisms, and toxicological implications

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Researchers reviewed human exposure pathways to microplastics and nanoplastics through seafood, salt, drinking water, inhalation, and skin contact, examining how these particles cross biological barriers to reach organs and trigger oxidative stress, inflammation, and endocrine disruption with poorly understood long-term consequences.