Papers

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Article Tier 2

Polystyrene Nanoplastics Induce Multi-Organ Toxicity in the Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): An Integrated Assessment of Physiological, Immunological, and Molecular Responses

Rainbow trout were exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics at three concentrations for 28 days and assessed for physiological, immunological, and molecular responses across multiple organs. NPs accumulated in liver, spleen, and intestine, causing dose-dependent oxidative stress, immune dysregulation, and altered gene expression, demonstrating multi-organ toxicity in a commercially important fish species.

2025
Article Tier 2

Effects of Sub-Chronic Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Lipid and Antioxidant Metabolism in Sparus aurata

Researchers exposed gilthead seabream to polystyrene nanoplastics for 14 days and measured effects on blood, tissue, and gene expression. While the fish showed no visible tissue damage or changes in body condition, they had reduced hemoglobin levels and significant downregulation of genes related to fat metabolism, growth, and antioxidant defense. The study suggests that nanoplastics can cause subtle but meaningful biological changes in fish even when outward signs of harm are absent.

2025 Animals 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioaccumulation and sub-chronic toxicity of microplastic environmentally relevant concentrations in Etroplus suratensis brackish water fish

This study found that polystyrene microplastics accumulated in multiple organs of brackish water fish (pearl spot), with the highest levels in the intestines and the lowest in the brain. The microplastics caused liver damage, weakened antioxidant defenses, increased stress hormones, and disrupted genes involved in growth and detoxification. These results are important because brackish water fish are widely consumed, and the study shows that even environmentally realistic microplastic levels can cause significant biological harm.

2025 Ecotoxicology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecotoxicological effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on common carp: Insights into blood parameters, DNA damage, and gene expression

Exposing common carp to polystyrene nanoplastics caused significant DNA damage in blood and brain cells, along with changes in genes related to immune function and stress response. Higher concentrations led to more severe effects, and the nanoplastics also disrupted liver antioxidant defenses. Since carp are widely consumed fish, these findings raise questions about the safety of fish from nanoplastic-contaminated waters for human consumption.

2024 Journal of Applied Toxicology 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of sub-chronic polystyrene nanoplastics exposure on hematology, histology, and endoplasmic reticulum stress-related protein expression in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Researchers exposed Nile tilapia to polystyrene nanoplastics for an extended period and found the particles caused blood cell changes, tissue damage in the liver and gills, and activated stress responses in cellular structures called the endoplasmic reticulum. Even the lowest concentration tested, which matches levels found in the environment, triggered harmful effects. Since tilapia is one of the most consumed farmed fish worldwide, these results highlight potential food safety concerns from nanoplastic contamination in aquaculture.

2024 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing the impact of dietary polystyrene nanoplastics on growth performance, immunological parameters, and antioxidant defense in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers fed zebrafish diets containing different concentrations of polystyrene nanoplastics for 30 days and observed reduced growth and increased stress markers at higher doses. The study found that nanoplastic exposure triggered oxidative stress, elevated cortisol levels, and altered immune-related gene expression, suggesting potential health impacts on fish from dietary nanoplastic intake.

2024 Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Transcriptome and Gene Family Analyses Reveal the Physiological and Immune Regulatory Mechanisms of Channa maculata Larvae in Response to Nanoplastic-Induced Oxidative Stress

Researchers exposed larvae of blotched snakehead fish to polystyrene nanoplastics at concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 20 mg/L and observed concentration-dependent damage to the liver and intestines. The nanoplastics triggered oxidative stress responses and affected genes involved in immune regulation and detoxification. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution during early fish development could compromise both organ function and immune defenses.

2026 Antioxidants
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanospheres-induced hepatotoxicity in swamp eel (Monopterus albus): From biochemical, pathological and transcriptomic perspectives

Researchers exposed swamp eels to polystyrene nanoplastics for 28 days and found significant liver damage including oxidative stress, tissue abnormalities, and disrupted gene expression related to immune response and metabolism. Higher concentrations caused more severe liver injury, with changes detectable at both the biochemical and genetic levels. This study adds evidence that nanoplastic exposure can harm liver function in freshwater species important to aquaculture and local food supplies.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Chronic nanoplastic exposure induced oxidative and immune stress in medaka gonad

Researchers exposed medaka fish to nanoplastics at varying concentrations over an extended period and found significant oxidative stress and immune disruption in their reproductive organs. Higher concentrations led to tissue damage in the gonads and altered expression of genes related to inflammation and antioxidant defense. The study suggests that chronic, low-level nanoplastic exposure may affect fish reproductive health over time.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioaccumulation and homeostatic alterations in trout exposed to a sublethal dose of polystyrene nanoplastics

Researchers orally exposed rainbow trout to polystyrene nanoplastics and found the particles accumulated mainly in the gut and blood — not the liver — causing subtle immune and metabolic changes without visible tissue damage after 96 hours. These findings suggest nanoplastics selectively distribute in fish tissues and trigger mild biological responses even at sublethal doses.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances
Article Tier 2

Transcriptome sequencing and metabolite analysis reveal the toxic effects of nanoplastics on tilapia after exposure to polystyrene

Researchers exposed larval tilapia to polystyrene nanoplastics and then analyzed changes in gene expression and metabolic profiles after a recovery period. They found that nanoplastic exposure disrupted immune-related pathways, energy metabolism, and lipid processing in the fish, with some effects persisting even after exposure ended. The study suggests that nanoplastics can cause lasting metabolic and immune disruptions in freshwater fish.

2021 Environmental Pollution 69 citations
Article Tier 2

Long-Term Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics Impairs the Liver Health of Medaka

Researchers found that three months of exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics caused significant liver damage in medaka fish, including oxidative stress, immune disruption, and altered gene expression related to lipid metabolism and detoxification pathways.

2022 Water 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Sub-chronic exposure of Oreochromis niloticus to environmentally relevant concentrations of smaller microplastics: Accumulation and toxico-physiological responses

Researchers exposed Nile tilapia to low, environmentally relevant concentrations of polystyrene microplastics for 14 days and found the particles accumulated in multiple organs including the brain, liver, and reproductive tissues. The fish showed changes in blood chemistry, increased stress hormones, and signs of liver and kidney dysfunction. These results suggest that even realistic levels of microplastic pollution can cause measurable physiological harm in fish.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Size-dependent effects of microplastic on uptake, immune system, related gene expression and histopathology of goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Researchers exposed goldfish to two sizes of polystyrene microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations for 28 days. The study found that microplastics accumulated in gill, liver, and intestine tissues, causing damage that worsened with smaller particle size and higher doses. The results indicate that microplastics trigger oxidative stress and immune responses in fish, with smaller particles posing greater health risks.

2021 Chemosphere 176 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic contamination: Impact on zebrafish liver metabolism and implications for aquatic environmental health

Zebrafish exposed to polystyrene nanoparticles for 28 days showed significant disruptions in liver metabolism, including altered fat processing, signs of inflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. Notably, at lower doses the liver's detox enzymes appeared to break down the nanoplastics themselves, while higher doses overwhelmed these defenses and caused more severe injury.

2024 Environment International 33 citations
Article Tier 2

From Antioxidant Defenses to Transcriptomic Signatures: Concentration-Dependent Responses to Polystyrene Nanoplastics in Reef Fish

Researchers exposed clownfish to polystyrene nanoplastics at low and high concentrations for seven days and assessed toxic effects using biochemical and gene expression analyses. While standard antioxidant biomarkers showed limited changes, transcriptomic analysis revealed significant alterations in stress response and metabolic pathways at higher concentrations. The study suggests that conventional biomarkers may underestimate nanoplastic toxicity, and that molecular-level analysis is needed to capture the full scope of effects on reef fish.

2026 Microplastics
Article Tier 2

Molecular effects of polystyrene nanoplastics toxicity in zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene nanoplastics at various concentrations and measured gene expression changes related to stress, inflammation, and DNA repair. They found dose-dependent activation of oxidative stress and apoptotic pathways at the highest concentration, along with inhibition of the neurotransmitter-related gene acetylcholinesterase and DNA repair genes. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure at the molecular level may compromise cellular defense mechanisms and neurological function in developing fish.

2022 Chemosphere 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Oxidative Stress, Blood Biochemistry, and Digestive Enzyme Activity in Goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Goldfish exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics in their diet for 21 days showed significant oxidative stress, disrupted blood chemistry, and reduced digestive enzyme activity, with effects worsening at higher doses. The smallest nanoplastics caused the most damage to the fishes' antioxidant defense systems and overall health. These findings add to the evidence that nanoplastics in aquatic environments can harm fish health in ways that may affect the safety of fish consumed by humans.

2025 Toxics 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Tissue damage, antioxidant capacity, transcriptional and metabolic regulation of red drum Sciaenops ocellatus in response to nanoplastics exposure and subsequent recovery

Researchers exposed red drum fish to polystyrene nanoplastics for seven days and then monitored their recovery over two weeks. They found persistent liver and gill tissue damage along with ongoing oxidative stress even after the nanoplastics were removed from the water. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure can cause lasting harm to marine fish that does not quickly reverse once the exposure ends.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicological effects of nano- and micro-polystyrene plastics on red tilapia: Are larger plastic particles more harmless?

Researchers exposed red tilapia to three sizes of polystyrene particles (0.3, 5, and 70-90 micrometers) to compare their toxic effects. The study found that the largest particles showed the highest accumulation in tissues, but all sizes induced oxidative stress, disrupted cytochrome P450 enzymes, caused neurotoxicity, and altered metabolic profiles, indicating that even smaller nanoplastics can cause significant harm to fish.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 253 citations
Article Tier 2

In vivo effects on the immune function of fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) following ingestion and intraperitoneal injection of polystyrene nanoplastics

Researchers exposed adult fathead minnow to polystyrene nanoplastics via ingestion and intraperitoneal injection and found that both routes delivered particles to liver and kidney and downregulated innate immune genes — including those controlling neutrophil, macrophage, and complement function — suggesting trophic transfer of nanoplastics can compromise fish immune defenses.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 65 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics are bioaccumulated in fish liver and muscle and cause DNA damage after a chronic exposure

Researchers chronically exposed fish to nanoplastics and, for the first time, quantified nanoplastic accumulation in liver and muscle tissue. They found that nanoplastics bioaccumulated in these organs and caused DNA damage in the exposed fish. The study provides important evidence that long-term nanoplastic exposure can lead to measurable tissue contamination and genetic harm in aquatic organisms.

2022 Environmental Research 114 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on oxidative stress, histopathology and intestinal microbiota in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

Researchers exposed largemouth bass — a commercially important freshwater fish — to polystyrene nanoplastics (tiny plastic particles 100 nanometers in size) for up to 19 days, finding tissue damage in the gills, liver, and intestines along with elevated markers of cellular stress. While growth was not significantly affected, the fish adjusted their gut microbiome in response, suggesting nanoplastics trigger adaptive but potentially harmful physiological changes.

2022 Aquaculture Reports 42 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Potential toxicity of nanoplastics to fish and aquatic invertebrates: Current understanding, mechanistic interpretation, and meta-analysis

Nanoplastics significantly reduced survival, behavior, and reproduction of fish and aquatic invertebrates by 56%, 24%, and 36% respectively, while increasing oxidative stress by 72% and decreasing antioxidant defenses by 24%, with effects influenced by particle size, functional groups, and concentration.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 77 citations