We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Morphometric effects of various weathered and virgin/pure microplastics on sac fry zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Summary
Researchers exposed sac fry zebrafish (Danio rerio) to weathered and virgin microplastics of various polymer types and found significant morphometric developmental effects, with weathered plastics generally causing greater biological harm than virgin counterparts due to differences in surface chemistry and plasticizer content.
Microplastics (5 mm to1 nm) and plasticizers are ubiquitous worldwide in waterways, beaches, sediments, and biota. Ingestion of microplastics by various marine species and bioaccumulation of plasticizers continues to be of concern. Additionally, microplastics act as a carrier for the transport of persistent organic pollutants and some harmful microorganisms, increasing the hazard to aquatic species. Microplastics vary in composition based on their monomeric component and the specific plasticizer(s). There is a large data gap in our understanding of the biological toxicity of the different plastic polymers. The results presented here examine gross morphological alterations in sac fry zebrafish as a result of exposure to weathered microplastics and virgin/pure plastic polymers. Embryos were exposed from 3 hours post fertilization (hpf) to 96 hpf with samples of weathered microplastics from estuaries in Newark Bay, NJ, as well as commercially available virgin/pure plastics at concentrations of 1 µg/mL or 10 µg/mL. The Newark Bay microplastics were chemically identified using pyrolysis GC-MS. The three field samples were composed primarily of polyethylene (FPE), polypropylene (FPP) and polyvinyl chloride vinyl acetate mixture (FVA). Significant morphometric changes (P < 0.05) were noted between the control zebrafish and the treated groups in the embryonic zebrafish samples for the Newark Bay, weathered samples following statistical analysis of morphometric data. The commercial microplastics tested included: low density polyethylene (LDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), sodium polyacrylate (SPA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyurethane (PUR), poly methyl-methacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene (co-vinyl-acetate) (PEVA), and polystyrene (co-acrylonitrile) (PSAN). Significant changes were seen in total body length in all three Newark Bay field sample microplastics, as well as virgin/pure microplastic treatment groups PET, PUR, PMMA. The pericardial sac size was found significantly altered in FPP 10 µg/mL sample plastic as well as pure microplastic treatment groups HDPE, SPA, PET, PUR, PMMA, PP, and PEVA. The interocular distance was found to be significantly changed in the pure microplastic treatment groups HDPE and PET. The pericardial sac size was the most sensitive endpoint measured followed by total body length. The least sensitive endpoint was interocular distance. These results highlight the associated toxicity with both weathered and lab standard grade microplastics exposure to treated zebrafish developing embryos. The laboratory induced cardiac and growth alterations following laboratory microplastic exposure could be examined in field populations exposed to high microplastic concentrations.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Structure activity toxicity of different micro-nanoplastics on developing Zebrafish (Danio rerio) based on individual polymer chemistry
This dissertation examined the toxicity of individual polymer chemistries—rather than generic microplastic mixtures—on zebrafish embryos and larvae, finding polymer-specific differences in developmental toxicity, behavioral disruption, and biochemical pathway activation across multiple plastic types.
Effects of pristine or contaminated polyethylene microplastics on zebrafish development
Researchers examined the effects of both pristine and pollutant-contaminated polyethylene microplastics on zebrafish development through chronic exposure. The study assessed how microplastics, both alone and as carriers of adsorbed organic pollutants, affect developing fish. The findings provide new insights into how contaminated microplastics may create additional routes for toxic compounds to enter aquatic food webs.
Morphological Alterations in the Early Developmental Stages of Zebrafish (Danio rerio; Hamilton 1822) Induced by Exposure to Polystyrene Microparticles
Researchers exposed zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos and larvae to three environmentally relevant concentrations of 100-micrometer polystyrene microplastics, finding no mortality but dose-dependent morphological alterations including pigmentation deficiency and head region abnormalities, with the integrated biomarker response index sensitive to all three concentrations tested.
Impact of virgin and weathered microplastics on zebrafish: Bioaccumulation, developmental toxicity and molecular pathway disruptions
Researchers compared the effects of brand-new versus environmentally weathered microplastics on zebrafish larvae and found that weathered particles were far more toxic, causing 80% mortality compared to 20% for new plastics. The weathered microplastics triggered more severe disruptions to oxidative stress pathways, cell death signaling, and DNA repair mechanisms. The study emphasizes that laboratory tests using only pristine microplastics may significantly underestimate the real-world dangers of plastic pollution.
Initial Assessment the Effects of Polyethylene Microplastics on the Growth of Zebrafish Embryos Danio rerio
Exposure of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos to polyethylene microplastics over 96 hours increased mortality rates and caused morphological abnormalities including pericardial edema and yolk sac deformities. The study provided initial toxicological evidence of PE microplastic developmental toxicity in a standard aquatic model organism.