We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Joint effects of micro-sized polystyrene and chlorpyrifos on zebrafish based on multiple endpoints and gut microbial effects
Summary
Researchers found that micro-sized polystyrene particles accumulated in zebrafish gut and liver, causing oxidative stress and gut microbiome disruption, and that co-exposure with chlorpyrifos pesticide amplified toxic effects at the individual level.
Microplastics often co-occur with a variety of organic contaminants in aquatic environment and pose combined risks to aquatic wildlife. Here, we investigated joint effects of micro-sized polystyrene (mPS, 5 µm) and an organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos on zebrafish, using multiple endpoints at both fish individual and gut microbiota levels. It was revealed that mPS ingested by zebrafish accumulated in gut and liver, and caused oxidative stress, hyperactive swimming performance and histological damages in fish, and induced disorders and diversity alterations of the gut microbial community. More importantly, mPS exhibited considerable adsorption capacity against chlorpyrifos, and those adsorbing chlorpyrifos presented greater effects on fish individuals but no different effects on gut microbiota compared to single mPS exposure. Together with body residues of chlorpyrifos in zebrafish, it was proposed that the joint effects between mPS and chlorpyrifos were attributed to the chlorpyrifos released from mPS within zebrafish. The present results provided a comprehensive understanding of joint effects of mPS and contaminants co-occurring in the environment and emphasized the importance of considering the adsorbed chemicals in toxicological studies of microplastics.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Polystyrene nano/microplastics induce microbiota dysbiosis, oxidative damage, and innate immune disruption in zebrafish
Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene particles of two different sizes and found that both nano- and micro-sized plastics disrupted gut bacteria, caused oxidative damage, and altered immune responses. The severity of effects depended on particle size and concentration, with smaller particles and higher doses causing more harm. The study suggests that plastic particles in waterways may pose a broader threat to fish health than previously understood, affecting digestion, stress defenses, and immunity simultaneously.
Co-exposure to polystyrene microplastics and cypermethrin enhanced the effects on hepatic phospholipid metabolism and gut microbes in adult zebrafish
When zebrafish were exposed to both polystyrene microplastics and the pesticide cypermethrin together, the combination caused significantly more liver damage than either pollutant alone. The mixture disrupted fat metabolism in the liver and altered gut bacteria in ways not seen with individual exposures. This matters because microplastics and pesticides frequently co-exist in waterways, and their combined effects on fish health could affect the safety of fish as food.
Combined toxic effects of polyethylene microplastics and lambda-cyhalothrin on gut of zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics can adsorb the pesticide lambda-cyhalothrin from water and then release it in the guts of zebrafish, worsening its toxic effects. Fish exposed to both microplastics and the pesticide showed greater oxidative stress, immune disruption, and gut microbiome changes than those exposed to the pesticide alone. This demonstrates how microplastics can act as carriers that amplify the toxicity of other environmental pollutants in aquatic organisms consumed by humans.
Toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics on atrazine in zebrafish: Exogenous toxicity and endogenous mechanism
Researchers found that combining polystyrene microplastics with the common herbicide atrazine was more toxic to zebrafish than either pollutant alone, causing greater liver and gut damage. The combination also degraded water quality by reducing oxygen levels and increasing harmful nitrogen compounds. This is important because microplastics and pesticides frequently co-exist in the environment, meaning their combined effects on aquatic life and food safety may be worse than studies of individual pollutants suggest.
Polystyrene microplastics and cypermethrin exposure interfered the complexity of antibiotic resistance genes and induced metabolic dysfunction in the gut of adult zebrafish
Zebrafish exposed to a combination of polystyrene microplastics and the pesticide cypermethrin showed more severe gut damage than from either pollutant alone, including loss of beneficial gut bacteria, growth of harmful microbes, and increased antibiotic resistance genes. This suggests that microplastics and pesticides together may disrupt gut health more than expected, which is relevant since humans encounter both pollutants through food and water.