Toxicological effects of nanoplastics and phenanthrene to zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Simulated Environmental Nanoplastics Induce Zebrafish Developmental Toxicity and Stress Response

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Scientists exposed zebrafish embryos to nanoplastics that were specially broken down to mimic how plastic actually degrades in oceans and rivers, and found they caused more harm than the lab-made plastic beads typically used in research, stunting growth, slowing hatching, and triggering stress hormone spikes even at very low doses. Because these effects showed up at concentrations similar to what's found in real water sources, the findings suggest current safety testing may be underestimating the risks nanoplastics pose to both aquatic life and, potentially, to people who drink that water or eat seafood from it.

Bioaccumulation and Toxic Effects of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Zebrafish: A Critical Review

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Researchers comprehensively reviewed micro- and nanoplastic bioaccumulation and toxicity in zebrafish, finding that these particles accumulate in digestive organs, gills, liver, and brain, inducing oxidative stress, developmental delays, neurotoxicity, and transgenerational reproductive impairments that highlight broad ecological risks.

Recent advances of microplastics toxicity and fate on zebrafish-a review

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This review synthesizes evidence on how micro- and nanoplastics cause developmental, reproductive, gastrointestinal, and oxidative stress toxicity in zebrafish, positioning the species as a valuable vertebrate model for understanding plastic pollutant effects across trophic levels. Zebrafish research is accelerating mechanistic understanding of how microplastics harm vertebrate biology, providing insights relevant to assessing risks for fish-eating wildlife and humans.

Toxicity assessment of environmentally relevant microplastics and tire particles on adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Toxicity of nano- and microplastics on marine and freshwater fish: A multi-scale perspective from organ systems to cells

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This review pulls together existing studies showing that tiny plastic particles (micro- and nanoplastics) can build up in fish, damaging their gut, gills, heart, brain, and immune system by causing inflammation and cellular stress. While this research was done in fish, it matters for us too, since these plastics are widespread in water and seafood, and fish share many biological similarities with humans, meaning our bodies could face similar risks from ongoing plastic exposure.