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Diel Pattern of Microplastic Residues in Zebrafish
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Researchers tracked how zebrafish take up and retain microplastics over a 24-hour light-dark cycle and discovered a clear daily pattern. Fish ingested more microplastics during daylight hours when they were actively feeding, while retention and excretion patterns shifted during dark periods. The study provides new insights into the timing of microplastic exposure in aquatic organisms, suggesting that sampling time matters for accurate pollution assessments.
As one of the emerging pollutants, microplastics (MPs) can be taken up by aquatic organisms through ingestion. However, little is known about the uptake pattern in organisms over time and the associated mechanisms of retention patterns. The present study aims to elucidate these patterns in fish, their relationship with light/dark conditions, and examine the uptake kinetic process of small-sized plastic pollutants, especially during the long-neglected dark period. Zebrafish were sampled every 2 h during the light and dark periods after exposure to an environmentally relevant concentration (100 items/L) of MPs. The results demonstrated that MP residues in zebrafish decreased during the dark period rather than increased over time. The MP retention rhythm and the swimming behavior of exposed zebrafish displayed a statistically significant light/dark variation. Moreover, a very strong and statistically significant positive correlation was found between the swimming speed of zebrafish and the number of MP residues in the gastrointestinal tracts of zebrafish. These results clearly demonstrate that fibrous MP residues in the fish have a discernible diel pattern. This work improves the understanding of the dynamic residual process of MPs in organisms and calls for further in-depth circadian toxicokinetic studies to better suit particle pollutants.
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Researchers tracked the accumulation and distribution of fluorescent microplastics in early life stages of a freshwater organism, finding that microplastics were taken up and distributed across body tissues. The results help explain how microplastics accumulate in young aquatic organisms and potentially affect their development.
Uptake, removal and trophic transfer of fluorescent polyethylene microplastics by freshwater model organisms: the impact of particle size and food availability
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Researchers used fluorescent polyethylene microplastics of different sizes to track how they move through a freshwater food chain from algae to water fleas to zebrafish. They found that smaller particles were ingested and transferred more readily between organisms, and that food availability influenced how many microplastics accumulated. The study demonstrates that microplastics can move up the food chain and that particle size plays a key role in how they are transported through aquatic ecosystems.
An end to the controversy over the microscopic detection and effects of pristine microplastics in fish organs
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Researchers conducted feeding experiments with zebrafish to resolve conflicting findings about microplastic detection and effects in fish. They found that zebrafish generally recognize plastic particles as inedible but ingest them when mixed with food, and effectively eliminate most particles within 24 hours, though larger particles take longer to clear. The study demonstrates using confocal microscopy to track plastic microbead uptake and translocation in fish for the first time, while finding no histopathological damage from pristine microplastic ingestion.
Effects of pristine or contaminated polyethylene microplastics on zebrafish development
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Researchers examined the effects of both pristine and pollutant-contaminated polyethylene microplastics on zebrafish development through chronic exposure. The study assessed how microplastics, both alone and as carriers of adsorbed organic pollutants, affect developing fish. The findings provide new insights into how contaminated microplastics may create additional routes for toxic compounds to enter aquatic food webs.
Dietary Microplastic Administration during Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Development: A Comprehensive and Comparative Study between Larval and Juvenile Stages
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Researchers compared how zebrafish at different developmental stages respond to microplastics mixed into their feed, testing various particle sizes and concentrations. They found that larval fish were more sensitive than juveniles, and that smaller microplastics caused greater accumulation in the body. The study provides evidence that early life stages of fish are particularly vulnerable to dietary microplastic exposure, which is relevant for understanding contamination risks in aquaculture.
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