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Biochemical impacts of PET microplastics and cadmium on Danio rerio under environmental conditions

2025

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This study examined the combined biochemical effects of PET microplastics and cadmium on zebrafish under environmentally relevant exposures, finding that co-exposure altered oxidative stress biomarkers, liver enzyme activity, and immune responses in ways that differed from single-contaminant exposures.

Polymers

Abstract The escalating presence of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems has sparked significant concern due to their detrimental effects on biota. A current debate revolves about the potential influence of type, size, and co-exposure with other contaminants on the toxicity of MPs. Here, two 21-day experiments with adult Danio rerio were carried out to (1) Verify the effects of different particle sizes of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET-MPs) (300-425 µm and 53-75 µm), at two different environmentally relevant concentrations: 983 particles. L -1 and 330 particles. L -1 , and (2) demonstrate the possible effects of Cd (10 μg. L -1 ), 53 µm PET-MP (330 particles. L -1 ) and their mixture (PET-MP + Cd), on a set biochemical indicator: total proteins, carbonylated protein (CP), glucose, triglycerides, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) activity. During exposure, there was no mortality. For the largest size (300-425 µm) there was a significant increase in CP levels, and a decrease in glucose and LDH levels compared to the control in both concentrations. In the experiment with PET-MPs co-exposed to Cd, the CP levels showed a significant increase in the PET-MP + Cd group compared to the control and PET-MP alone, evidencing oxidative stress because of the addition of Cd. LDH levels decreased significantly when Cd was added to the PET-MP. MDH of the Cd group showed a significant increase when compared to the control group and PET-MP alone. Our study evidenced that the toxicity of PET-MPs varied depending on the size, concentration, and combination with Cd.

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