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Assessment of biological effects and harm to Japanese medaka due to carbonized carbon fibers generated by a pyrolysis carbon fiber recycling process
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Fine carbon fiber particles released during recycling of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics caused harm to Japanese medaka fish in static aquatic conditions, likely by promoting microbial infection, even though the carbon fibers themselves showed low direct toxicity. As carbon fiber composites expand into more industries, this study highlights a novel category of fiber pollution with ecotoxicological risks analogous to microplastics.
Carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRPs) are used as structural materials in the aircraft and automotive industries owing to their lightweight and high strength. With increasing global demand for CRFPs, their application as an alternative to metals is expected to expand to several other fields. Consequently, carbon fiber (CF) products, such as CFRPs, have been attracting attention, and are used worldwide. However, there is little scientific evidence on the safety of CFs. In addition, problems similar to those caused by microplastics will ultimately arise if milled CFs or CF dust are released into the aquatic environment. Therefore, on the basis of existing microplastics studies, we conducted a CF ecotoxicity experiment using Japanese medaka and confirmed that the medaka were harmed by fine CF particles in an aquatic environment under static conditions, such as stagnant water, although the CFs themselves did not exhibit notable toxicity. It is possible that the rate of infection by microorganisms increased as a result.
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Gibel carp exposed to polyacrylonitrile microfibers and copper for 21 days showed that the two pollutants together caused greater damage to antioxidant defenses, liver function, and gut immunity than either alone. This highlights how microplastics interact with heavy metals already in waterways, compounding the toxic burden on fish and signaling broader risks for aquatic food chains.
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