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Quantifying the Amplification of Organophosphate Ester-Induced Visual Risk by Nanoplastics Considering Dual Mechanisms of Vector Effects and Efflux Inhibition
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Researchers quantified how nanoplastics amplify the visual toxicity of the flame retardant TDCIPP in zebrafish through two mechanisms: acting as a physical carrier that increases pollutant delivery to tissues, and inhibiting cellular efflux systems that normally expel toxins. They developed a quantitative model to predict the combined risk under realistic environmental conditions. The study reveals that nanoplastics can significantly worsen the harmful effects of co-occurring chemical contaminants through multiple biological pathways.
Nanoplastics (NPs) are pervasive in aquatic environments, where they co-occur with chemical contaminants, potentially modulating their toxicological behaviors. However, the combined risks of these mixtures remain poorly characterized due to complex interactions and challenges in extrapolating laboratory findings to realistic scenarios. Here, using the representative flame retardant tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) as a model co-contaminant, we evaluated the combined toxicity of TDCIPP and NPs with varying aging and modification properties at environmentally relevant concentrations by integrating transcriptomics, bioassays, molecular dynamics, and mechanistic modeling. We demonstrated that NPs significantly amplified the bioaccumulation and visual toxicity of TDCIPP in zebrafish larvae. This chemosensitization was driven by dual mechanisms: NPs served as vectors enhancing TDCIPP uptake and concurrently inhibited cellular efflux transporters via downregulation and competitive binding. Aged and amino-modified NPs exhibited stronger effects. We further developed a mechanism-based predictive framework coupling a refined toxicokinetic model to a quantitative adverse outcome pathway for visual impairment. This framework substantially improved toxicity predictions and, when supported by field data, indicated that 1 mg/L NPs amplify the TDCIPP-induced visual impairment risk by 21.35%. This work provides a dynamic and cross-scale perspective from molecular interactions to individual-level risks, offering an extrapolatable approach for assessing the NP-contaminant combined effects on aquatic health.
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Microplastics and nanoplastics with co-contaminants: A comprehensive review of neurotoxic effects
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Researchers reviewed how micro- and nanoplastics act as vectors for heavy metals, phthalates, pharmaceuticals, and flame retardants, with combined exposures triggering oxidative stress, neurotransmitter disruption, and blood-brain barrier damage in fish and rodent models — calling for integrated toxicological assessments that account for synergistic effects at realistic environmental concentrations.
Contrasting effects of micro- and nanoplastics on accumulation and toxicity of tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate in zebrafish embryo revealed by toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic model
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Researchers examined how microplastics and nanoplastics differently affect the accumulation and toxicity of the flame retardant TDCIPP in zebrafish embryos. The study found that while microplastics had minimal effect, nanoplastics significantly increased TDCIPP bioaccumulation and enhanced adverse effects on hatching, development, and survival, as validated by toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic modeling.
Effects of micro/nanoplastics combined with three anthropogenic chemicals on larval zebrafish (Danio rerio): study of toxicity, behaviour and assessment of uptake
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles alone didn't harm baby zebrafish, but when combined with common chemicals found in flame retardants and antidepressants, the plastics made those chemicals more toxic. This suggests that in the real world, where we're exposed to plastic particles and chemicals together, the combination could be more harmful than either one alone—even though this study was in fish, it raises questions about how plastic pollution might amplify chemical risks for humans too.
Nanoplastics aggravated TDCIPP-induced transgenerational developmental neurotoxicity in zebrafish depending on the involvement of the dopamine signaling pathway
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Zebrafish exposed to nanoplastics combined with TDCIPP (a common flame retardant chemical) from embryo to adulthood showed more severe brain development problems than exposure to either pollutant alone. The nanoplastics increased the absorption of the flame retardant and together they disrupted the dopamine signaling pathway in the brain, with toxic effects carrying over to the next generation. This highlights how nanoplastics can amplify the neurotoxicity of other environmental chemicals.
Developmental stage-dependent carrier effects of nanoplastics on PFOS bioaccumulation and toxicity in zebrafish: Insights from toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic perspective
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Researchers used a toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic framework to study how nanoplastics affect the accumulation and toxicity of the pollutant PFOS in zebrafish at different developmental stages. They found that nanoplastics reduced PFOS uptake in embryos, offering some protection, but significantly increased PFOS accumulation and toxic effects in larvae. The study highlights that nanoplastics can act as either toxicity mitigators or amplifiers depending on the organism's life stage.
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