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Toxicity of microplastics and copper, alone or combined, in blackspot seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo) larvae

Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 2022 32 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 50 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Dércia Santos, Montse Pérez, E. Gasca- Pérez, Edna Cabecinha, Ana Luzio, Luís Félix, Sandra M. Monteiro, Juan Bellas

Summary

Researchers examined the toxicity of microplastics and copper, alone and combined, on blackspot seabream larvae, finding that microplastic-copper mixtures can alter biochemical biomarkers and gene expression related to oxidative stress and immune response in developing fish.

Body Systems

Plastics pose serious risks for fish productivity and a potential constraint for food security. Newly hatched blackspot seabream larvae were exposed to microplastics (MPs), copper (Cu, 10-810 µg/L) and their mixtures (Cu+MPs), during 3 and 9 days. Biochemical biomarkers and the expression of antioxidant and neurotoxicity-related genes were evaluated. In the 3-day exposure, catalase and glutathione-S-transferase activities decreased in MPs, Cu and Cu+MPs groups, followed by an increase of lipid peroxidation in the Cu270 and Cu270 +MPs exposed larvae. In the 9-day exposure, ROS levels increased in MPs and Cu30 groups, but no significant oxidative damage was observed, suggesting that the antioxidant system overcome the induced oxidative stress. However, the acetylcholinesterase transcript was downregulated in MPs, Cu and Cu10+MPs groups, indicating that MPs effects in cholinergic neurotransmission may arise after longer exposures. Overall, MPs and Cu can reduce survival, induce oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, neurotoxicity, and impact negatively fish larvae fitness.

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