We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Dose-Dependent Cytotoxicity of Polypropylene Microplastics (PP-MPs) in Two Freshwater Fishes
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers fed zebrafish and freshwater perch polypropylene microplastics at low and high doses and measured cellular damage in liver and gill tissues. They found dose-dependent toxicity including DNA damage up to 18-fold higher than controls, lipid peroxidation, and disrupted metabolism of key compounds like tryptophan. The study provides evidence that polypropylene microplastic ingestion causes significant cellular harm to freshwater fish in a dose-dependent manner.
The massive accumulation of plastics over the decades in the aquatic environment has led to the dispersion of plastic components in aquatic ecosystems, invading the food webs. Plastics fragmented into microplastics can be bioaccumulated by fishes via different exposure routes, causing several adverse effects. In the present study, the dose-dependent cytotoxicity of 8−10 μm polypropylene microplastics (PP-MPs), at concentrations of 1 mg/g (low dose) and 10 mg/g dry food (high dose), was evaluated in the liver and gill tissues of two fish species, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) and the freshwater perch (Perca fluviatilis). According to our results, the inclusion of PP-MPs in the feed of D. rerio and P. fluviatilis hampered the cellular function of the gills and hepatic cells by lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, protein ubiquitination, apoptosis, autophagy, and changes in metabolite concentration, providing evidence that the toxicity of PP-MPs is dose dependent. With regard to the individual assays tested in the present study, the biggest impact was observed in DNA damage, which exhibited a maximum increase of 18.34-fold in the liver of D. rerio. The sensitivity of the two fish species studied differed, while no clear tissue specificity in both fish species was observed. The metabolome of both tissues was altered in both treatments, while tryptophan and nicotinic acid exhibited the greatest decrease among all metabolites in all treatments in comparison to the control. The battery of biomarkers used in the present study as well as metabolomic changes could be suggested as early-warning signals for the assessment of the aquatic environment quality against MPs. In addition, our results contribute to the elucidation of the mechanism induced by nanomaterials on tissues of aquatic organisms, since comprehending the magnitude of their impact on aquatic ecosystems is of great importance.
More Papers Like This
Deleterious Effects of Polypropylene Microplastic Ingestion in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers fed Nile tilapia daily doses of polypropylene microplastics for 30 days and observed significant health effects including changes in blood cell counts, altered gut bacteria, and tissue damage to the intestines and liver. The higher dose group showed more pronounced effects, including elevated inflammatory markers and signs of oxidative stress. The study provides evidence that chronic ingestion of microplastics commonly found in aquatic environments can cause meaningful harm to a widely consumed fish species.
Biochemical, Genotoxic and Histological Implications of Polypropylene Microplastics on Freshwater Fish Oreochromis mossambicus: An Aquatic Eco-Toxicological Assessment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers fed polypropylene microplastics to freshwater tilapia and found they caused oxidative stress, DNA damage, and liver tissue deterioration, with more severe effects after 14 days compared to acute 96-hour exposure. The microplastics disrupted antioxidant enzyme systems and neurotransmitter activity in the fish. The study demonstrates that prolonged microplastic ingestion poses a significant ecological threat to freshwater fish species.
Toxicity and Functional Tissue Responses of Two Freshwater Fish after Exposure to Polystyrene Microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed zebrafish and perch to polystyrene microplastics for 21 days and assessed tissue-level damage using a battery of biomarkers. They found that the microplastics caused oxidative stress, DNA damage, and activated cell death pathways in both gill and liver tissues. The study suggests that gills are more sensitive to microplastic exposure than liver tissue for most measured parameters, with DNA damage being the most responsive biomarker overall.
Eco-toxicity assessment of polypropylene microplastics in juvenile zebrafish (Danio rerio)
AI summary Read the abstract
This study exposed young zebrafish to polypropylene microplastics for 28 days and found that the particles built up in their digestive tracts, causing oxidative stress, liver damage, and blood cell death. The damage increased with higher microplastic concentrations, and brain function was also affected through changes in a key neurotransmitter enzyme. These findings suggest that even common plastics like polypropylene can cause significant organ damage when ingested over time.
Exposure to polypropylene microplastics via diet and water induces oxidative stress in Cyprinus carpio
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers fed carp fish polypropylene microplastics through both food and water and found that exposure caused oxidative stress in the liver, gills, and intestines. The damage was dose-dependent, with higher microplastic concentrations causing more harm to the fish's antioxidant defense systems. Since carp is a widely consumed fish, these findings raise questions about whether microplastics in aquaculture could affect the safety of fish as human food.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.