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Single and combined acute and subchronic toxic effects of microplastics and copper in zebrafish (Danio rerio) early life stages
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Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos and larvae to microplastics, copper, and their combinations to assess individual and combined toxic effects. They found that microplastics alone caused limited harm, but when combined with copper, the mixture produced altered biochemical responses and changes in gene expression. The study suggests that microplastics can modify the toxicity of heavy metals in aquatic organisms during early development.
The evaluation of the interaction between microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals is of special importance for risk assessment. In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to MPs (2 mg/L), two sub-lethal concentrations of copper (Cu, 60 and 125 μg/L) and their mixtures (Cu60 + MPs, Cu125 + MPs), from 2-h post-fertilization (hpf) until 14-days post-fertilization (dpf). Lethal and sublethal endpoints were evaluated, along with a set of biochemical and genetic biomarkers between 2 and 14 dpf. Exposure to MPs and Cu, single or combined, induced high mortality and oxidative stress in zebrafish larvae, with data showing that the antioxidant enzymes were inhibited at 6 dpf, increasing thereafter until 14 dpf, due to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. MPs and Cu, single or combined, caused neurotoxicity in larvae by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase activity. There was an increased and significant effect of Cu + MPs groups on the evaluated biomarkers, concerning the corresponding Cu groups, suggesting that MPs may have a synergistic effect in relation to Cu. The Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR) evidenced that a higher degree of stress occurred at the larval period. Our findings highlight that MPs can act as a vector for heavy metals, therefore, influencing their bioavailability and toxicity in the organisms.
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Toxicological effects induced on early life stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio) after an acute exposure to microplastics alone or co-exposed with copper
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Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to microplastics alone and combined with copper to assess their joint toxicity during early development. They found that copper, both alone and combined with microplastics, reduced survival, increased oxidative stress, inhibited a key nervous system enzyme, and disrupted avoidance and social behaviors. The study suggests that microplastics may modulate copper toxicity in some biological endpoints, highlighting the importance of studying combined pollutant exposures during vulnerable developmental stages.
Polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) harness copper presence and promote impairments in early zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae: Developmental, biochemical, transcriptomic approaches and nontargeted metabolomics approaches
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This zebrafish study found that polystyrene microplastics combined with copper produced worse toxic effects than either pollutant alone, causing developmental problems, oxidative stress, immune disruption, and nerve damage in larvae. The combination also disrupted the fish's metabolism in ways that neither pollutant caused independently. This is concerning because microplastics readily absorb heavy metals like copper in the environment, meaning organisms are often exposed to both together.
Combined effects of microplastics and copper on oxidative responses in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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Researchers exposed zebrafish (Danio rerio) to microplastics (10 µg/L) and copper (45 µg/L) individually and in combination, finding that fish exposed to both stressors simultaneously exhibited higher oxidative stress across multiple body organs than those exposed to either contaminant alone.
Microplastics alone or co-exposed with copper induce neurotoxicity and behavioral alterations on zebrafish larvae after a subchronic exposure
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Researchers exposed zebrafish larvae to microplastics alone and in combination with copper, a common water pollutant, and found that both caused neurotoxic effects and behavioral changes. Larvae showed reduced swimming speed, impaired avoidance responses, and inhibited activity of acetylcholinesterase, a key enzyme for nervous system function. When microplastics and copper were combined, the harmful effects were amplified, suggesting that microplastics can worsen the toxicity of other environmental contaminants.
Biological Effects of Microplastics and Its Binary Mixture with Copper in Zebrafish Brain and Gonads
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Scientists exposed zebrafish to tiny plastic particles (microplastics) alone and combined with copper, a common water pollutant, to see how they affect the brain and reproductive organs. The study found that microplastics can cause harmful effects on their own, and when mixed with copper, the combination can be even more damaging than either substance by itself. Since zebrafish are often used to predict health risks in other animals, this research is a warning sign that everyday plastic pollution mixed with other contaminants could pose greater risks to human health than previously thought.
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