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Ecotoxicological evaluation of chitosan biopolymer films particles in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio): A comparative study with polystyrene microplastics
Summary
Researchers compared the effects of chitosan biopolymer film particles, a proposed eco-friendly alternative to plastic, against conventional polystyrene microplastics in adult zebrafish. They found that while both materials caused oxidative stress, the biopolymer tended to activate protective antioxidant responses, whereas polystyrene triggered more damaging effects including cell death pathways. The study suggests that biodegradable alternatives to plastic may still affect aquatic organisms, though potentially in less harmful ways than traditional microplastics.
To mitigate the environmental impact of microplastics (MPs), the scientific community has innovated sustainable and biodegradable polymers as viable alternatives to traditional plastics. Chitosan, the deacetylated form of chitin, stands as one of the most thoroughly investigated biopolymers and has garnered significant interest due to its versatile applications in both medical and cosmetic fields. Nevertheless, there is still a knowledge gap regarding the impact that chitosan biopolymer films (CBPF) may generate in aquatic organisms. In light of the foregoing, this study aimed to assess and compare the potential effects of CBPF on the gastrointestinal tract, gills, brain, and liver of Danio rerio against those induced by MPs. The findings revealed that both CBPF and MPs induced changes in the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers across all organs. However, it is essential to note that our star plots illustrate a tendency for CBPF to activate antioxidant enzymes and for MPs to produce oxidative damage. Regarding gene expression, our findings indicate that MPs led to an up-regulation in the expression of genes associated with apoptotic response (p53, casp3, cas9, bax, and bcl2) in all fish organs. Meanwhile, CBPF produced the same effect in genes related to antioxidant response (nrf1 and nrf2). Overall, our histological observations substantiated these effects, revealing the presence of plastic particles and tissue alterations in the gills and gastrointestinal tract of fish subjected to MPs. From these results, it can be concluded that CBPF does not represent a risk to fish after long exposure.