0
Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Human Health Effects Nanoplastics Policy & Risk Reproductive & Development Sign in to save

Amitriptyline ecotoxicity in Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822) embryos – similar toxicity profile in the presence of nanoplastics

Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 2024 3 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 50 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Joana Santos, Ângela Barreto, Thiago Murta Coelho, Edna Carvalho, Diogo Pereira, Vânia Calisto, Vera L. Maria

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.

Polymers

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.

Sign in to start a discussion.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Effects of the Antidepressant Amitriptyline on Juvenile Brown Trout and Their Modulation by Microplastics

Researchers exposed juvenile brown trout to the antidepressant amitriptyline with and without polystyrene microplastics and found that microplastics modulated the pharmaceutical's effects on fish behavior and physiology, highlighting the complexity of combined pharmaceutical-plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems.

Article Tier 2

Toxic interactions between fluoxetine and microplastics in zebrafish embryonic development

Researchers studied the combined toxic effects of the antidepressant fluoxetine and microplastics on zebrafish embryos at concentrations found in the environment. They found that the mixture caused more severe harm than either substance alone, including pericardial swelling, spinal deformities, delayed hatching, and increased mortality. The study suggests that microplastics and pharmaceutical pollutants may interact in waterways to create compounding threats to developing fish.

Article Tier 2

Is fish response to nanoplastics exposure modulated by neuropharmaceuticals pre-exposure? A case study with zebrafish (Danio rerio)s

Researchers examined whether prior chronic exposure to the antidepressant paroxetine (21 days at 40 and 400 µg/L) modulated zebrafish behavioral responses to subsequent acute exposure to PMMA nanoplastics (1 and 10 µg/L, 96 hours), finding that paroxetine pre-exposure reduced basal locomotor activity and that a significant interaction between paroxetine and nanoplastics altered swimming behavior under light conditions.

Article Tier 2

Cocktail effects of emerging contaminants on zebrafish: Nanoplastics and the pharmaceutical diphenhydramine

Researchers investigated cocktail effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and the antihistamine diphenhydramine on zebrafish, finding that nanoplastics altered the uptake and toxicity of the pharmaceutical, demonstrating the importance of studying contaminant mixtures.

Article Tier 2

Combined exposure to microplastics and amitriptyline induced abnormal behavioral responses and oxidative stress in the eyes of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed zebrafish to microplastics, the antidepressant amitriptyline, and their combination to assess behavioral and oxidative stress effects. The study found that combined exposure significantly increased locomotor activity and shoaling behavior while decreasing antioxidant enzyme levels in the eyes, suggesting that microplastics and pharmaceutical pollutants together may produce additive toxic effects on aquatic organisms.

Share this paper