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Polystyrene microplastics effects on zebrafish embryological development: Comparison of two different sizes
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Zebrafish embryos exposed to polystyrene microplastics of two different sizes (1 and 3 micrometers) showed increased heart rates, physical deformities, and cell death at higher concentrations. The microplastics accumulated inside the larvae and triggered oxidative stress, which is an imbalance that damages cells. These findings add to growing evidence that microplastics can interfere with early development in ways that may be relevant to understanding risks during human pregnancy and infancy.
Microplastics have become a great worldwide problem and it's therefore important to study their possible effects on human and environmental health. In this study, zebrafish embryos were used to compare two different sizes of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs), 1 µm and 3 µm respectively, at 0.01, 0.1, 1.0 and 10.0 mgL-1, and were monitored up to 72 h. Toxicity tests demonstrated that neither of the PS-MPs altered the embryos' survival and the normal hatching process. Instead, higher concentrations of both sizes caused an increase of the heart rate and phenotypic changes. The PS-MPs of both sizes entered and accumulated in the larvae at the concentration of 10.0 mgL-1 and the same concentration caused an increase of apoptotic processes correlated to redox homeostasis changes. The reported results give a realistic view of the negative effects of exposure to PS-MPs and provide new information on their toxicity, also considering their sizes.
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Effects of polystyrene nanoplastic size on zebrafish embryo development
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Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene nanoplastics of four sizes and found only the smallest (30 nm) caused mortality and altered oxidative stress and apoptosis gene expression, while larger particles (100–450 nm) were ingested and accumulated in the digestive system without causing developmental malformations.
Polystyrene nanoplastics cause developmental abnormalities, oxidative damage and immune toxicity in early zebrafish development
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Zebrafish embryos exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics showed dose-dependent developmental problems including delayed hatching, reduced survival, smaller body size, and the nanoplastics accumulated in critical organs like the eyes, heart, liver, and brain. The particles triggered oxidative stress that damaged cells and activated inflammatory immune responses, demonstrating how nanoplastic contamination in water can cause widespread harm to developing organisms.
Polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics induce neurotoxicity in zebrafish via oxidative stress and neurotransmitter disruption
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Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics and found that both particle sizes caused neurodevelopmental toxicity, with nanoplastics being more potent. The plastic particles induced oxidative stress in the brain and disrupted neurotransmitter levels critical for normal neural development. The study suggests that microplastic and nanoplastic contamination in aquatic environments may pose significant risks to the neurological development of fish.
Neurotoxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics with different particle sizes at environment-related concentrations on early zebrafish embryos
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Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes at concentrations found in the environment and observed significant brain damage. The nanoplastics caused loss of neurons, shortened nerve fibers, and disrupted brain signaling systems that control behavior. Smaller nanoplastics caused the most severe damage because they could pass through protective barriers more easily, suggesting that the tiniest plastic particles pose the greatest risk to brain development.
Size- and polymer-dependent effects of polystyrene and polyethylene micro- and nanoplastics in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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Researchers systematically compared polystyrene and polyethylene micro- and nanoplastics in zebrafish embryos and larvae, finding that nanoplastics caused mortality, impaired hatching, and disrupted swimming behavior at lower concentrations than microplastics, with surface adhesion to embryonic tissues emerging as a likely initiating mechanism for nanoplastic toxicity.
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