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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Human Health Effects Marine & Wildlife Sign in to save

Toxicological effects of irregularly shaped and spherical microplastics in a marine teleost, the sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus)

Marine Pollution Bulletin 2018 383 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Jin Soo Choi, June‐Woo Park June‐Woo Park Jin Soo Choi, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Jin Soo Choi, Jin Soo Choi, Jin Soo Choi, Jin Soo Choi, Sang Hee Hong, Jin Soo Choi, Jin Soo Choi, Jin Soo Choi, Jin Soo Choi, Jin Soo Choi, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Jin Soo Choi, Youn-Joo Jung, Sang Hee Hong, Jin Soo Choi, June‐Woo Park June‐Woo Park Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Nam-Hui Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, June‐Woo Park June‐Woo Park June‐Woo Park June‐Woo Park Jin Soo Choi, Jin Soo Choi, Jin Soo Choi, Youn-Joo Jung, Youn-Joo Jung, Nam-Hui Hong, Nam-Hui Hong, Jin Soo Choi, Jin Soo Choi, Jin Soo Choi, Nam-Hui Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Jin Soo Choi, Youn-Joo Jung, Jin Soo Choi, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, June‐Woo Park June‐Woo Park June‐Woo Park Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, June‐Woo Park Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, June‐Woo Park Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, June‐Woo Park June‐Woo Park June‐Woo Park Sang Hee Hong, June‐Woo Park June‐Woo Park June‐Woo Park June‐Woo Park Sang Hee Hong, June‐Woo Park Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, June‐Woo Park Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, June‐Woo Park Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, Sang Hee Hong, June‐Woo Park

Summary

Researchers compared the toxicological effects of irregularly shaped versus spherical microplastics on sheepshead minnows. Both types accumulated in the digestive system and caused intestinal distention, but irregularly shaped particles were more harmful, reducing swimming behavior more than spherical ones. The study highlights that the shape of microplastic particles matters for toxicity assessments, and commonly used uniform spheres may underestimate real-world risks.

Body Systems

The increasing global contamination of plastics in marine environments is raising public concerns about the potential hazards of microplastics to environmental and human health. Microplastics formed by the breakdown of larger plastics are typically irregular in shape. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of spherical or irregular shapes of microplastics on changes in organ distribution, swimming behaviors, gene expression, and enzyme activities in sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus). Both types of microplastics accumulated in the digestive system, causing intestinal distention. However, when compared to spherical microplastics, irregular microplastics decreased swimming behavior (i.e., total distance travelled and maximum velocity) of sheepshead minnow. Both microplastics generated cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), while ROS-related molecular changes (i.e., transcriptional and enzymatic characteristics) differed. This study provides toxicological insights into the impacts of environmentally relevant (fragmented) microplastics on fish and improves our understanding of the environmental effects of microplastics in the ecosystem.

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