Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Exploring developmental toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPS): Insights from investigations using zebrafish embryos

This review summarizes research on how micro- and nanoplastics harm embryo development using zebrafish as a model organism that shares genetic similarities with humans. Studies show these tiny plastic particles cause damage to the brain, heart, gut, and immune system of developing embryos, largely through oxidative stress and cell death pathways.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 34 citations
Article Tier 2

The Zebrafish as an Alternative Animal Model for Ecotoxicological Research and Testing

This review highlights zebrafish as a valuable model for studying the toxic effects of environmental contaminants, including microplastics, because they share many biological pathways with humans. Zebrafish embryos, larvae, and adults can be used to screen for harmful effects of pollutants quickly and at multiple life stages. The approach helps researchers understand how microplastics and other environmental contaminants might affect human health without requiring direct human testing.

2024 Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on the accumulation and neurotoxicity of methylmercury in zebrafish larvae

Researchers found that microplastics can adsorb methylmercury and act as carriers, increasing its accumulation in zebrafish larvae and worsening neurotoxicity by disrupting locomotor activity and triggering oxidative stress.

2022 Marine Environmental Research 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Research progress of model animal zebrafish in toxicity evaluation of microplastics

This review examines the use of zebrafish as a model organism for evaluating the toxicity of microplastics, synthesizing research on how microplastic exposure affects development, reproduction, and physiological function in this well-established vertebrate model. The authors highlight zebrafish as a particularly valuable system for mechanistic toxicology studies given its genetic tractability and the breadth of endpoints assessable across life stages.

2022 SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics- and copper-induced changes in neurogenesis and DNA methyltransferases in the early life stages of zebrafish

Researchers found that exposure to microplastics and copper, alone or combined, disrupted neurogenesis and DNA methylation in zebrafish embryos, downregulating genes involved in neuronal development and suggesting epigenetic mechanisms underlying neurotoxicity.

2022 Chemico-Biological Interactions 39 citations
Review Tier 2

Advances of microplastics ingestion on the morphological and behavioral conditions of model zebrafish: A review

This review summarizes research on how microplastic ingestion affects zebrafish, a popular lab animal that shares genetic similarities with humans. Studies show that microplastics cause a range of harmful effects in zebrafish, including abnormal behavior, oxidative stress, immune disruption, and reproductive problems, with smaller particles and higher concentrations causing the most damage. Since zebrafish are used as a model for human health, these findings raise concerns about what similar exposure levels could mean for people.

2024 Aquatic Toxicology 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Neurodevelopment and Neurodegeneration in Zebrafish

This review covers how micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) exposure affects neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration in zebrafish, summarising evidence on impaired neurodevelopment, behavioural changes, and markers of neurodegeneration from studies using various polymer types and exposure routes. It frames zebrafish as a key model for understanding MNP neurotoxicity.

2025
Article Tier 2

Zebrafish: An emerging model to study microplastic and nanoplastic toxicity

This review highlights zebrafish as an increasingly valuable model organism for studying the toxic effects of micro- and nanoplastics due to their transparent embryos, genetic similarity to humans, and ease of laboratory use. Researchers summarized existing zebrafish studies showing that plastic particles can cross biological barriers and accumulate in tissues, causing various toxic effects. The study positions zebrafish research as a key tool for advancing our understanding of how plastic particle exposure affects living organisms.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 434 citations
Article Tier 2

Zebrafish Insights into Nanomaterial Toxicity: A Focused Exploration on Metallic, Metal Oxide, Semiconductor, and Mixed-Metal Nanoparticles

This review summarizes research on how various nanomaterials, including nano-sized plastics, affect zebrafish, which are commonly used as stand-ins for studying human health effects. Exposure to nanomaterials caused developmental defects, organ damage, behavioral changes, and reproductive problems in zebrafish. These findings help scientists understand the potential health risks of nanomaterial exposure to humans and the environment.

2024 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of microplastics on the accumulation and chronic toxic effects of cadmium in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics combined with cadmium for three weeks and found that the presence of microplastics significantly increased cadmium accumulation in the liver, gut, and gills. The combined exposure caused greater oxidative damage, tissue inflammation, and disruption of protective gene activity than either pollutant alone. The study demonstrates that microplastics can enhance the toxicity of heavy metals in fish by acting as carriers that increase the body's uptake of harmful substances.

2018 Chemosphere 461 citations
Article Tier 2

Additive effects of microplastics on accumulation and toxicity of cadmium in male zebrafish

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polyethylene microplastics and cadmium, both individually and in combination, for 21 days. They found that microplastics and cadmium together produced additive toxic effects, increasing cadmium accumulation in fish tissues, altering behavior, and causing more severe organ damage. The study suggests that microplastics in contaminated waterways may worsen the harmful effects of heavy metals on aquatic life.

2023 Chemosphere 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Neurotoxicity of Some Environmental Pollutants to Zebrafish

This review examines how environmental pollutants including microplastics, pesticides, and drug residues can damage the nervous system, using zebrafish as a model organism. The studies show that microplastics can cause neurotoxic effects on their own and also increase the brain-damaging potential of other pollutants they carry, which has implications for understanding how these contaminants might affect the human nervous system.

2024 Life 25 citations
Article Tier 2

A current perspective on the relevance of nano and microplastics in the neurodevelopmental disorders: further relevance for metabolic, gastrointestinal, oxidative stress-related and zebrafish studies

This review examines evidence that micro- and nanoplastics may affect brain development and neurological function, drawing on studies in zebrafish and other animal models. The authors discuss potential mechanisms including oxidative stress and endocrine disruption, and call for more research on the neurodevelopmental risks of plastic particle exposure.

2020 Bulletin of Integrative Psychiatry 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Comprehensive review of ecological risks and toxicity mechanisms of microplastics in freshwater: Focus on zebrafish as a model organism

This comprehensive review examines how microplastics affect zebrafish, a widely used laboratory model, covering impacts on the gut, liver, reproductive system, nervous system, and immune function. Researchers found that microplastics can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and disruption of gut bacteria across multiple organ systems. The review highlights that zebrafish studies provide valuable insights into the biological mechanisms by which microplastics may affect freshwater organisms and, potentially, human health.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

In vivo biotoxicological assessment of nanoplastics and microplastics predicted using the zebrafish model

This review summarises zebrafish studies on the toxicity of nanoplastics and microplastics, covering developmental, reproductive, neurological, and organ-level effects. It discusses how findings in this widely used model organism may predict human health outcomes and calls for standardised exposure protocols.

2025 PeerJ
Article Tier 2

Single and combined acute and subchronic toxic effects of microplastics and copper in zebrafish (Danio rerio) early life stages

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos and larvae to microplastics, copper, and their combinations to assess individual and combined toxic effects. They found that microplastics alone caused limited harm, but when combined with copper, the mixture produced altered biochemical responses and changes in gene expression. The study suggests that microplastics can modify the toxicity of heavy metals in aquatic organisms during early development.

2021 Chemosphere 96 citations
Article Tier 2

Use of zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model for research in toxicological studies

This review explains why zebrafish (Danio rerio) are a valuable model organism for toxicology research, summarizing how their biology, genetics, and organ systems resemble those of humans enough to yield insights about human health risks. Zebrafish are widely used in microplastic toxicology studies, and this review provides context for understanding the significance of zebrafish findings for human health. The paper covers applications across disease modeling and environmental toxicology.

2021 Journal of Applied and Natural Science 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene microplastics with cadmium on the intestine of zebrafish at environmentally relevant concentrations

Researchers exposed zebrafish to PVC or polypropylene microplastics combined with cadmium, a toxic heavy metal often used in plastic manufacturing. The microplastics increased cadmium buildup in the fish intestines and worsened gut damage, including inflammation and disruption of the intestinal barrier. This is relevant to human health because people can be exposed to similar combinations of microplastics and heavy metals through contaminated seafood.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Current Aspects on the Plastic Nano- and Microparticles Toxicity in Zebrafish—Focus on the Correlation between Oxidative Stress Responses and Neurodevelopment

This review examines how nano- and micro-sized plastic particles cause toxic effects in zebrafish, focusing on the link between oxidative stress and neurodevelopmental damage. Researchers found that plastic particle exposure disrupts the balance of reactive oxygen species in cells, which can impair brain development and nervous system function. The study suggests these oxidative stress responses may serve as early warning signals of plastic particle toxicity in aquatic organisms.

2023 Animals 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics aggravate the adverse effects of methylmercury than inorganic mercury on zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene microplastics combined with two forms of mercury and found that the microplastics significantly increased the accumulation of methylmercury in the fish. The combination of microplastics and methylmercury caused worse developmental abnormalities, delayed hatching, and greater oxidative stress than either pollutant alone. The study suggests that microplastics can act as carriers for toxic metals, amplifying their harmful effects on aquatic organisms.

2024 Environmental Pollution 8 citations
Article Tier 2

O Modelo Zebrafish e sua Contribuição ao Meio Ambiente

This Brazilian review examined zebrafish as a model organism for testing water quality and the toxicity of micropollutants including microplastics in wastewater. Zebrafish are increasingly used as a standard test system for evaluating the biological effects of microplastic exposure because their genetics and physiology closely mirror human responses.

2021
Article Tier 2

Effects of pristine or contaminated polyethylene microplastics on zebrafish development

Researchers examined the effects of both pristine and pollutant-contaminated polyethylene microplastics on zebrafish development through chronic exposure. The study assessed how microplastics, both alone and as carriers of adsorbed organic pollutants, affect developing fish. The findings provide new insights into how contaminated microplastics may create additional routes for toxic compounds to enter aquatic food webs.

2022 Chemosphere 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Research Progress of Zebrafish Model in Aquatic Ecotoxicology

This review examines how zebrafish are used as model organisms to study the toxic effects of environmental pollutants in water, including microplastics. Zebrafish are ideal because they reproduce quickly, are inexpensive to maintain, and allow researchers to study effects at the genetic, cellular, and whole-organism level. The paper provides a reference guide for scientists choosing model animals for aquatic toxicology research.

2023 Water 48 citations
Article Tier 2

New insight into long-term effects of phthalates microplastics in developing zebrafish: Evidence from genomic alteration and organ development

Researchers investigated the long-term developmental effects of three common plasticizers (DBP, DEP, and DEHP) leaching from microplastics on zebrafish larvae. The study found that phthalate exposure caused higher mortality, morphological abnormalities, and significant changes in genes related to cardiovascular development, tail formation, and other critical developmental pathways.

2023 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 26 citations