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Amitriptyline ecotoxicity in Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822) embryos – similar toxicity profile in the presence of nanoplastics
Summary
Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics interact with the antidepressant amitriptyline and their combined toxicity to zebrafish embryos. They found that nanoplastics did not significantly alter the drug's toxicity for most endpoints, but the combination produced unexpected behavioral effects including reduced activity that differed from either substance alone. The study highlights the complexity and unpredictability of nanoplastic-pharmaceutical interactions in aquatic environments.
Interaction of nanoplastics (NPls) with other environmental contaminants could affect their uptake by the organisms and their toxicity. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the polystyrene NPls (44 nm) interaction with the antidepressant amitriptyline (AMI) and its toxicity to Danio rerio embryos. A similar toxicological profile for NPls + AMI exposure was found for most of the evaluated endpoints, comparing with AMI single exposure, showing that the presence of NPls did not modulate the AMI toxicity. However, the behavioral assessment showed a different pattern with hypoactivity for the NPls + AMI exposure (NPls - hyperactivity; AMI - no effect). Interaction effects between NPls and AMI were also found in the protein contents (antagonism) and in the total glutathione content (synergism). This study highlights the complexity and unpredictability of NPls interaction with pharmaceuticals, important for an accurate environmental risk assessment and for the developing of effective strategies and interventions against plastic pollution.