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The combined toxic effects of polyvinyl chloride microplastics and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on the juvenile zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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Researchers studied the combined toxic effects of PVC microplastics and the plasticizer DEHP on zebrafish embryos and larvae. While PVC alone slowed hatching and increased death rates, the combination of PVC and DEHP actually showed some antagonistic effects, reducing certain types of damage compared to individual exposures. The study provides insight into how microplastics and their associated chemicals may interact in complex ways when organisms are exposed to them together in natural waters.
Microplastics (MPs) have the characteristics of large specific surface area, high hydrophobicity and surface charge, so they are easy to combine with other pollutants and cause toxic effects on aquatic organisms. Here, we prepared a polyvinyl chloride-microplastics (PVC-MPs) fragmentation model to simulate the real microplastic state, and characterized its composition, morphology, particle size and zeta potential. On this basis, we used single and compound exposure of PVC and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) to explore their effects on hatchability and mortality of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos and toxicity to oxidative stress and cardiac development in zebrafish larvae. Herein, PVC-MPs slowed down the hatching rate of zebrafish embryos and induced the death of zebrafish, while DEHP could slow down the induced of death, it had no effect on hatching rate. The PVC-MPs/DEHP single pollution could induce the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activated the antioxidant defense signaling pathway, while the compound group showed the level of feedback autoregulation of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway. The single pollution also could inhibit the expression of genes related to cardiac development, while the combined pollution showed an antagonistic effect. This study provided a theoretical basis for the ecotoxicology and biomonitoring of MPs in the natural state.
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Toxicity and antagonistic effects of the combined exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and polyvinyl chloride nanoplastics on the early developmental stage of zebrafish
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Zebrafish embryos exposed to PVC nanoplastics alone showed activated detoxification and antioxidant responses, while the chemical DEHP alone caused oxidative damage and lower expression of neurodevelopment genes. When combined, PVC nanoplastics reduced DEHP's neurotoxic effects, possibly because DEHP stuck to the plastic particles' surfaces.
Combined Toxicities of Di-Butyl Phthalate and Polyethylene Terephthalate to Zebrafish Embryos
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Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polyethylene terephthalate microplastics and the plasticizer di-butyl phthalate, both alone and in combination. While the microplastics alone mainly delayed hatching, the plasticizer caused severe developmental abnormalities and death. The study found that the microplastics actually reduced the toxicity of the plasticizer by adsorbing it, though they also slowed its breakdown, creating a more persistent exposure risk.
The combined toxicity assessment of polystyrene microplastics and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on cardiac development in zebrafish embryos
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Researchers studied the combined toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics and the plasticizer DEHP on heart development in zebrafish embryos. They found that co-exposure significantly reduced heart rate and survival, increased oxidative stress and cell death, and enlarged the heart structure. The study identifies specific metabolic and signaling pathways involved in cardiac toxicity, suggesting that the combination of microplastics and their chemical additives may pose greater risks to heart development than either alone.
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.
Combined toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics and 3,6-dibromocarbazole on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos
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Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene microplastics along with a brominated pollutant (3,6-dibromocarbazole) and found that the combination produced unexpected results. While each pollutant individually caused oxidative stress and cell death, together they actually reduced these effects -- an antagonistic interaction. However, the microplastics acted as carriers that increased the accumulation of the toxic chemical in the fish, potentially amplifying its longer-term dioxin-like toxicity.
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