We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Multi‐Biomarkers' Responses in Gills of Oreochromis niloticus Exposed to Glyphosate and Polyethylene Microplastic, Isolated and in Mixture
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed tilapia fish to polyethylene microplastics and the herbicide glyphosate, both alone and in combination, and examined gill tissue for signs of damage. They found that the mixture of both contaminants caused more severe oxidative stress and tissue damage than either pollutant alone. The study suggests that microplastics and agricultural chemicals may interact in waterways to amplify harmful effects on fish health.
Microplastics (MPs) and glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) are among the most common contaminants in aquatic environments. In Brazilian rivers, both contaminants were found in elevated levels, leading to a high probability of their association, which can alter their individual effects and potentially intensify their toxicity. This study evaluated the isolated and combined effects of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) and GBH on Oreochromis niloticus using multi-biomarkers of toxicity. The fish were subjected to a 96-h exposure period, with concentrations set based either isolated, PE-MPs group (5 mg L-1), GBH group (5 mg L-1), or in a group of associated contaminants (GAC), PE-MP + GBH (5 mg L-1 + 5 mg L-1). Toxicity effects were evaluated using biochemical, cytogenetic, hematological, and histopathological biomarkers. We observed change in erythrocyte parameters leading to macrocytic normochromic anemia in GAC. Leukocyte parameters indicate a nonspecific immunosuppression caused by the exposure of associated contaminants, besides the attempts to repair damage caused by PE-MPs. Histopathological markers indicate damage to tissues exposed to contaminants. Besides, there were morphophysiological adjustments on gills, with proliferation and hypertrophy of mitochondria-rich cells on GBH and GAC, besides epithelium ruptures, which were mostly present in the exposed groups. Therefore, this study indicates that PE-MPs and GBHs present toxic effects in O. niloticus with the used concentrations, intensified by the association of contaminants. Thus, multi-biomarkers were useful key to verify toxicity, providing data to the investigation of high levels of contaminant's mixture toxicity present in aquatic environments.
More Papers Like This
Toxic effects of MPs and Up Grade® herbicide on the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Oxidative stress, immune responses, and histopathological investigations
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that when tilapia fish were exposed to both microplastics and a common weed-killer chemical together, the damage to their gills, gut, and reproductive organs was worse than exposure to either pollutant alone—along with signs of inflammation and cellular stress. Since these two pollutants often show up together in rivers and lakes where fish are farmed or caught for food, this research suggests we may be underestimating the health risks these combined chemicals pose to the fish we eat and to aquatic ecosystems overall.
Toxicity of mixture of polyethylene microplastics and Up Grade® pesticide on Oreochromis niloticus juvenile: I. Hemato-biochemical and histopathological alterations
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed juvenile Nile tilapia to a pesticide and polyethylene microplastics, both individually and in combination, and measured blood chemistry changes and organ damage over 15 days. The combination treatment caused more severe effects than either pollutant alone, including reduced red blood cell counts, elevated liver enzymes, and significant tissue damage to the gills and intestines. The study demonstrates that microplastics can worsen the toxic effects of agricultural pesticides on commercially important fish species.
Biointerface interactions and mechanistic ecotoxicity of polystyrene micro/nanoplastics and imidacloprid in juvenile Carassius auratus under single and combined exposure
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that when fish farmed for food are exposed to both microplastics and a common pesticide together, their gills suffer more damage than from either pollutant alone, including cell death and disrupted waste processing. Since these fish are raised in ponds near farms and end up on dinner tables, this raises concerns about how combined pollution affects the safety and health of our food sources.
Title: Co-exposure to polystyrene microplastics and permethrin induces gill injury in Gobiocypris rarus involving oxidative stress and microbiota dysbiosis
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that when tiny plastic particles (microplastics) and a common pesticide called permethrin mix together in water, they cause much worse damage to fish gills than either pollutant alone, harming cells, disrupting healthy bacteria, and increasing oxidative stress and cell death. This matters because these pollutants often occur together in real rivers and lakes, meaning wildlife (and potentially humans through the food chain and shared water sources) may face greater combined risks than typically assumed when chemicals are tested individually.
Co-exposure toxicity of microplastic and sumithion in Nile tilapia – changes in growth, hematology, histopathology of internal tissues and immune-antioxidant genes expression
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied the combined effects of polyamide microplastics and the pesticide sumithion on Nile tilapia, a widely farmed fish species. They found that co-exposure reduced growth, disrupted blood parameters, caused tissue damage in gills and intestines, and altered immune and antioxidant gene expression more severely than either pollutant alone. The study highlights that microplastics and pesticides together may pose amplified threats to fish health in contaminated aquaculture environments.
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.