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Comparative analysis of the toxicological and histopathological impact of microplastic fibers and microbeads in exposure associated with dibutyl phthalate in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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Researchers compared the toxicological effects of microplastic fibers versus microbeads, alone and combined with the plasticizer dibutyl phthalate, on zebrafish livers and intestines. They found that microplastic fibers caused more severe oxidative stress and tissue damage than microbeads, including higher enzyme activity changes and more pronounced pathological alterations. The study suggests that fiber-shaped microplastics should be prioritized in environmental monitoring and toxicity assessments.
Acting as emerging pollutants in freshwater ecosystems, microplastics and plasticizers may have toxicological and histopathological effects on aquatic organisms. However, the combined toxicity of microplastics and plasticizers as well as the toxicological differences among various microplastic shapes have been limitedly studied. To address these gaps, we conducted laboratory experiments using zebrafish (Danio rerio, Hamilton 1822) to assess oxidative stress levels, lipid peroxidation, and pathological damage under both sole and combined exposure to microplastic fibers (MFs), microbeads (MBs), and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). Generally, our results demonstrated significantly toxicological response of fish livers and intestines to the sole and combined exposure to microplastics (MFs and MBs) and DBP. Specifically, in fish livers, MFs accounted for the highest increase in CAT and GST activity, with more severe swollen hepatocytes and vacuolization occurred. Similarly, we also recorded higher SOD activity and MDA content with the exposure to MFs in zebrafish intestines. In addition, the exposure to MFs incurred more severe changes in goblet cell reduction and hypervacuolisation in fish intestines. In summary, MFs exhibited more severe oxidative stress and pathological damage than MBs, which highlighted the importance of prioritizing MFs in environmental monitoring and examining the toxicity of MFs on laboratory studies.
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Toxicities of microplastic fibers and granules on the development of zebrafish embryos and their combined effects with cadmium
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Researchers compared the toxicity of polyethylene terephthalate microplastic fibers versus granules on zebrafish embryo development, and examined their combined effects with cadmium. They found that fibrous microplastics caused more severe developmental abnormalities than granular particles, and both forms enhanced cadmium toxicity when present together. The study suggests that microplastic shape is an important factor in toxicity assessments and that fiber-shaped particles may pose greater risks to aquatic organisms.
Metabolomic profiling reveals the intestinal toxicity of different length of microplastic fibers on zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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Researchers exposed zebrafish to microplastic fibers of two different lengths and found that longer fibers caused more severe intestinal damage and reduced food intake by 54-67%. Metabolomic analysis revealed that the fibers disrupted lipid and fatty acid metabolism in the gut, promoting oxidative damage and inflammation. The study demonstrates that microplastic fiber length is an important factor in determining the severity of intestinal toxicity in aquatic organisms.
Accumulation of different shapes of microplastics initiates intestinal injury and gut microbiota dysbiosis in the gut of zebrafish
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Researchers exposed zebrafish to three different shapes of microplastics and found that fibers and fragments accumulated more in the gut than beads, causing greater intestinal injury and disruption of gut bacteria. The shape of the microplastic particles significantly influenced both how much accumulated and the severity of the biological harm. The study suggests that microplastic shape is an important factor in assessing their environmental and health risks.
Effects of microfiber and bead microplastic exposure in the goldfish Carassius auratus: Bioaccumulation, antioxidant responses, and cell damage
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Researchers exposed goldfish to two types of microplastics, fibers and beads, and found that both caused oxidative stress in the liver and kidney, with fiber-type microplastics generally producing stronger effects. The microplastics accumulated in fish tissues and triggered changes in antioxidant gene expression and cell damage over the five-day exposure period. The findings suggest that the shape of microplastics matters for their biological impact, with fibers potentially being more harmful than beads.
Toxic effect of chronic exposure to polyethylene nano/microplastics on oxidative stress, neurotoxicity and gut microbiota of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polyethylene microplastics and nanoplastics for 21 days and found both caused oxidative damage to organs, disrupted brain function, and altered gut bacteria. Surprisingly, the toxic effects of microplastics and nanoplastics were similar in terms of brain and gut impacts, though organ-level oxidative damage varied by tissue type. These findings are concerning because they show that the plastic particles commonly found in food and water can simultaneously harm the brain, gut, and vital organs.
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