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Investigating the Release and Toxicity of Microplastics/Nanoplastics From Single‐Use Plastic Bags to Zebrafish
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Researchers studied how single-use polyethylene bags break down under environmental conditions and tested the resulting microplastic and nanoplastic particles on zebrafish embryos. The fragments released from degraded bags showed higher toxicity than pure polyethylene particles, causing dose-dependent developmental abnormalities including pericardial edema, spinal curvature, and mortality rates up to 93% at the highest concentrations, likely due to chemical additives and degradation products.
The environmental degradation of single-use polyethylene (PE) bags poses a growing concern due to the release of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs). This study investigated the fragmentation behaviour of PE bags under simulated environmental conditions (mechanical shear stress, temperature, pH, and ultraviolet [UV] exposure) and evaluated the toxicity of resulting particles using zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. Shear stress alone caused up to 30.76% polymer deterioration and released approximately 4.7 × 103 particles per microliter. The ideal fragmentation occurred at pH 6.5, 50°C, and 1-h UV exposure, whereas minimal release was also observed at pH 6.5, 30°C, and 15-h UV exposure. The MP/NP characterization revealed that MPs/NPs from PE bags were morphologically heterogeneous and chemically distinct from pure PE MPs/NPs, containing additives such as Si, Al, and Ti. Zebrafish exposure studies demonstrated dose-dependent developmental toxicity, including pericardial oedema, spinal curvature, delayed hatching, and mortality up to 93% at the highest particle concentration. Compared to pure PE MPs/NPs, MPs/NPs released from PE bags showed higher toxicity, likely due to chemical degradation products. Hatching rates also declined significantly with increasing particle concentrations. The total ratio of normal zebrafish declined intensely from 60% at the lowest concentration to only 10% at the highest exposure level, confirming a strong concentration-dependent toxic effect. This reduction in healthy larvae, with increase in malformations and mortality, shows the developmental toxicity induced by MPs/NPs. These findings highlight the critical environmental and biological risks of plastic pollution from disposable PE bags and emphasize the need for stricter waste management and regulatory oversight.
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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.
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Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to PET plastic micro and nanoparticles at levels found in the environment and observed toxic effects including reduced tail movement, faster heart rates, and changes in eye development. The smaller nanoplastic particles were especially concerning because they are more easily absorbed by developing organisms. These findings suggest that PET plastic pollution in water could harm fish development, raising questions about effects on other species exposed through contaminated water.
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Researchers systematically compared polystyrene and polyethylene micro- and nanoplastics in zebrafish embryos and larvae, finding that nanoplastics caused mortality, impaired hatching, and disrupted swimming behavior at lower concentrations than microplastics, with surface adhesion to embryonic tissues emerging as a likely initiating mechanism for nanoplastic toxicity.
Assessing the embryotoxicity of polypropylene micro- and nanoplastics generated through simulated environmental weathering in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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Researchers generated environmentally weathered polypropylene micro- and nanoplastics through combined UV and mechanical degradation and exposed zebrafish embryos, finding accelerated hatching, abnormal spontaneous movements, altered swimming behavior, and particle accumulation on the egg surface — indicating meaningful developmental and behavioral toxicity during early life stages.
Micro- and Nanoplastics Exposure and Effects on Embryonic Development and Larval Behavior of Zebrafish
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Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to nanoplastics for three to five days and measured developmental and behavioral endpoints, finding that plastic accumulation in early development slowed yolk consumption and body growth on day two and increased locomotion while reducing body length by day six — supporting persistent developmental disruption from nanoplastic exposure.
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