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In vitro impacts of polystyrene microplastics and environmental pollutants on ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase and glutathione S-transferase activity in Mossambica tilapia
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This in vitro study examined how polystyrene microplastics interact with environmental pollutants to affect endocrine function, finding that combined exposures produce different hormonal disruption outcomes than individual pollutants alone.
Microplastic (MP) pollution is a potential threat to marine organisms. In vitro toxicity of MPs and other pollutants, such as pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs), has been understudied. This study aimed to investigate the effects of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) with different particle sizes on two biomarkers: ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in tilapia liver homogenates. The study also examined the combined effects of PS-MPs with various environmental contaminants, including three metal ions (Cu, Zn, Pb), three BFRs, and six PhACs. PS-MPs alone had no remarkable effects on the two biomarkers at the selected concentrations. However, PS-MPs combined with other pollutants significantly affected the two biomarkers in most situations. For EROD activity, PS + metal ions (except Zn at 1000 μg/L), PS + BFRs (except decabromodiphenyl oxide (BDE-209)) or PS+ trimethoprim (TMP) significantly inhibited activity values, whereas PS+ 4-acetaminophen (AMP) induced EROD activity. For GST, PS together with most tested pollutants (except PS+ ibuprofen (IBF)) greatly decreased the activities. Accordingly, future research should focus on combined toxicity of mixtures to set more reasonable environmental safety evaluation standards.
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Researchers found that combined exposure to polystyrene microplastics and benzo[a]pyrene caused significantly greater endocrine disruption, oxidative stress, and DNA damage in goldfish than either pollutant alone, with effects intensifying through the hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal axis.
Synergistic effects of polystyrene microplastics and 17α-methyltestosterone on immune and oxidative stress responses in the gill and liver of Gobiocypris rarus
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Researchers investigated the combined effects of polystyrene microplastics and the synthetic hormone 17-alpha-methyltestosterone on the gills and liver of rare minnows. The study found that co-exposure caused the most severe tissue damage, with significant upregulation of immune and oxidative stress genes and disrupted antioxidant enzyme activities, suggesting synergistic toxicity between these two pollutants.
Individual and combined effects of microplastics and diphenyl phthalate as plastic additives on male goldfish: A biochemical and physiological investigation
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Male goldfish exposed to both microplastics and the plasticizer chemical DPP (diphenyl phthalate) together showed significant liver damage, disrupted fat and sugar metabolism, and hormonal imbalances including decreased testosterone and increased estrogen. The combined exposure was more harmful than either pollutant alone, demonstrating how microplastics and their chemical additives can work together to disrupt the endocrine system.
Effects of combined exposure to polystyrene microplastics and 17α-Methyltestosterone on the reproductive system of zebrafish
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Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics combined with a synthetic hormone (17-alpha-methyltestosterone) and found that the combination caused more severe reproductive damage than either substance alone. The co-exposure reduced mature egg and sperm production, disrupted hormone-related gene expression, and lowered reproductive hormone levels. This suggests that microplastics can make the effects of hormone-disrupting chemicals in the environment worse, which is concerning for both wildlife and human reproductive health.
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Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics increased the estrogenic effects of 17a-ethynylestradiol in male marine medaka, with co-exposure at higher MP concentrations causing greater reproductive disruption than the estrogen alone.
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