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In-depth comparative immunotoxicity assessment of pristine and aged PLA microplastics in zebrafish larvae: Bioaccumulation and NF-κB signaling insights
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Researchers compared the immunotoxic effects of pristine and UV-aged polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics on zebrafish larvae. They found that aged PLA showed greater bioaccumulation and stronger immunotoxic effects, including intensified oxidative stress, suppressed immune function, and activation of the NF-kB inflammatory signaling pathway. The study provides evidence that biodegradable plastics may pose greater ecological risks after environmental weathering than in their original form.
Polylactic acid (PLA) plastics are widely utilized as biodegradable alternatives, yet their fragmentation into microplastics (MPs) poses ecological risks. Comprehensive assessments and mechanistic insights into their immunotoxicity are currently lacking. This study systematically evaluated immunotoxic effects and underlying mechanism of pristine and aged PLA (APLA) MPs in larval zebrafish. UV treatment resulted in surface fragmentation, bond cleavage, reduced particle size, and increased oxygen-containing functional groups. Larval exposure (6-120 hpf) to PLA/APLA led to preferential intestinal accumulation, with APLA showing greater bioaccumulation than PLA. Under the influence of intestinal digestive enzymes, PLA/APLA MPs underwent degradation to varying extents. Additionally, PLA/APLA exposure intensified oxidative stress, evidenced by increased SOD activity and excessive accumulation of ROS, MDA, and NO. It also increased innate immune cells, suppressed T-cell differentiation, and inhibited humoral immunity, with stronger effects observed for APLA. Mechanistic studies revealed that PLA/APLA activated the NF-κB signaling pathway, as evidenced by stable binding of PLA to NF-κB1 and NF-κB2 in molecular docking analysis. This was further validated by reduced immunotoxic effects upon treatment with the NF-κB inhibitor QNZ. These findings provide critical scientific evidence to guide the forecasting and prevention for the environmental health risk of biodegradable plastic particles.
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Impact of virgin and weathered microplastics on zebrafish: Bioaccumulation, developmental toxicity and molecular pathway disruptions
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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.
Photolytic degradation elevated the toxicity of polylactic acid microplastics to developing zebrafish by triggering mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis
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Researchers found that biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics become more toxic to zebrafish after being broken down by sunlight over 90 days. UV exposure shrank the particles and generated nanoplastics, which were harder for the fish to expel from their bodies compared to the original material. The degraded PLA triggered oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage in developing zebrafish, suggesting that the environmental breakdown of biodegradable plastics may actually increase their harmful effects.
Polylactic acid microplastics before and after aging induced neurotoxicity in zebrafish by disrupting the microbiota-gut-brain axis
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Researchers exposed zebrafish to microplastics made from PLA, a common biodegradable plastic, and found that both new and aged PLA particles caused brain and nerve damage, including sluggish behavior, memory problems, and increased aggression. Aged PLA particles were even more toxic, and the damage appeared to work through disruption of the gut-brain connection, raising concerns about the safety of biodegradable plastics as they break down in water.
Photoaging enhanced the adverse effects of polyamide microplastics on the growth, intestinal health, and lipid absorption in developing zebrafish
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Researchers found that polyamide microplastics became significantly more harmful to developing zebrafish after being aged by simulated sunlight, shrinking in size and generating nanoplastic fragments. The aged particles caused greater damage to intestinal health, impaired lipid absorption, and stunted growth compared to unaged microplastics. The study demonstrates that environmental weathering can substantially increase the biological risks posed by microplastics in aquatic ecosystems.
Enhanced reproductive toxicity of photodegraded polylactic acid microplastics in zebrafish
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Researchers found that polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, often marketed as biodegradable, became more toxic after being broken down by sunlight. The sun-degraded PLA caused worse reproductive damage in zebrafish than the original material, disrupting hormone levels and egg development. This is concerning because PLA is widely used as an eco-friendly plastic alternative, but its breakdown products may actually pose greater risks to organisms and ecosystems.
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