Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Embryotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics in zebrafish Danio rerio

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene microplastics during early development and observed serious physical deformities, particularly in the spine, tail, and eyes, despite no increase in mortality. The exposed larvae also showed elevated expression of genes involved in oxidative stress defense and cellular detoxification. The findings suggest that microplastics can disrupt critical developmental stages in freshwater fish even when they do not directly cause death.

2021 Environmental Research 136 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating the Release and Toxicity of Microplastics/Nanoplastics From Single‐Use Plastic Bags to Zebrafish

Researchers studied how single-use polyethylene bags break down under environmental conditions and tested the resulting microplastic and nanoplastic particles on zebrafish embryos. The fragments released from degraded bags showed higher toxicity than pure polyethylene particles, causing dose-dependent developmental abnormalities including pericardial edema, spinal curvature, and mortality rates up to 93% at the highest concentrations, likely due to chemical additives and degradation products.

2026 Journal of Applied Toxicology
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

RETRACTED: Developmental toxicity in zebrafish exposed to polyethylene microplastics under static and semi-static aquatic systems

Researchers evaluated the developmental toxicity of polyethylene microplastics on zebrafish embryos and larvae under both static and semi-static exposure conditions. They found that even low concentrations of microplastics negatively affected hatching rates and caused morphological changes, with the type of exposure system influencing the severity of effects. Note: this paper has been retracted by the journal.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 207 citations
Article Tier 2

Morphological Alterations in the Early Developmental Stages of Zebrafish (Danio rerio; Hamilton 1822) Induced by Exposure to Polystyrene Microparticles

Researchers exposed zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos and larvae to three environmentally relevant concentrations of 100-micrometer polystyrene microplastics, finding no mortality but dose-dependent morphological alterations including pigmentation deficiency and head region abnormalities, with the integrated biomarker response index sensitive to all three concentrations tested.

2022 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Morphometric effects of various weathered and virgin/pure microplastics on sac fry zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed sac fry zebrafish (Danio rerio) to weathered and virgin microplastics of various polymer types and found significant morphometric developmental effects, with weathered plastics generally causing greater biological harm than virgin counterparts due to differences in surface chemistry and plasticizer content.

2021 AIMS environmental science 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of polyethylene microbeads found in facial wash products in Zebrafish ( Danio rerio) using the Fish Embryo Acute Toxicity Test

This study used standardized zebrafish embryo toxicity testing to evaluate whether polyethylene microbeads from facial cleansers cause developmental abnormalities, finding dose-dependent mortality and multiple teratogenic effects including skeletal deformities. Cosmetic microbeads that enter waterways pose genuine developmental risks to aquatic vertebrates.

2020 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of phenotypic and behavioral toxicity of micro- and nano-plastic polystyrene particles in larval zebrafish ( Danio rerio )

Researchers exposed larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) to six sizes (0.05–10.2 µm) and multiple concentrations of polystyrene micro/nanoplastics and assessed toxicity using embryo and behavioral assays. Smaller particles and higher concentrations caused greater phenotypic and behavioral toxicity, with particle uptake and organ distribution confirmed, establishing size as a key determinant of polystyrene MP toxicity in a vertebrate developmental model.

2025 NRC Digital Repository
Article Tier 2

Assessing the embryotoxicity of polypropylene micro- and nanoplastics generated through simulated environmental weathering in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers generated environmentally weathered polypropylene micro- and nanoplastics through combined UV and mechanical degradation and exposed zebrafish embryos, finding accelerated hatching, abnormal spontaneous movements, altered swimming behavior, and particle accumulation on the egg surface — indicating meaningful developmental and behavioral toxicity during early life stages.

2026 NanoImpact
Article Tier 2

Assessing the embryotoxicity of polypropylene micro- and nanoplastics generated through simulated environmental weathering in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

This is a research data deposit supporting a study assessing the embryotoxicity of polypropylene micro- and nanoplastics generated through simulated environmental weathering in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

2025 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Assessing the embryotoxicity of polypropylene micro- and nanoplastics generated through simulated environmental weathering in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

This is a research data deposit supporting a study assessing the embryotoxicity of polypropylene micro- and nanoplastics generated through simulated environmental weathering in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

2025 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of environmental-relevant exposure to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) micro and nanoparticles in zebrafish early development

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to PET plastic micro and nanoparticles at levels found in the environment and observed toxic effects including reduced tail movement, faster heart rates, and changes in eye development. The smaller nanoplastic particles were especially concerning because they are more easily absorbed by developing organisms. These findings suggest that PET plastic pollution in water could harm fish development, raising questions about effects on other species exposed through contaminated water.

2024 NanoImpact 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Cardiovascular toxicity assessment of polyethylene nanoplastics on developing zebrafish embryos

Researchers assessed the cardiovascular effects of polyethylene nanoplastics on developing zebrafish embryos and found that exposure above 50 micrograms per milliliter caused pericardial edema, reduced cardiac output, and impaired blood vessel formation. The nanoplastics also triggered oxidative stress and inflammation, which contributed to blood clot formation in the embryos. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure could pose risks to cardiovascular development in living organisms.

2021 Chemosphere 151 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioaccumulation of various nanoplastic particles in larval zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) to 40-60 nm and 100 nm polystyrene nanoplastic particles using standard fish embryo toxicity and general behavioral toxicity assays from 6-120 hours post-fertilization, combining toxicity endpoints with fluorescence microscopy to confirm particle uptake and excretion. The study demonstrated nanoplastic accumulation within zebrafish larvae at tested concentrations, providing mechanistic insights into aquatic organism exposure dynamics for nanoplastics.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Screening for microplastics in drinking water and its toxicity profiling in zebrafish

Researchers tested several brands of bottled water sold in India and found microplastics present in all samples, with polyethylene being the most common polymer detected. When zebrafish embryos were exposed to these microplastics, they showed concentration-dependent toxic effects including developmental abnormalities and organ accumulation. The study raises concerns about human health risks from microplastics in commercially available drinking water.

2023 Chemosphere 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Danio rerio as a Model Animal for Assessing Microplastic Toxicity

This review examines the use of zebrafish as a model organism for assessing microplastic toxicity, summarizing experimental findings across polymer types and sizes showing that microplastic exposure induces epithelial damage, lipid metabolism disruption, reproductive impairment, and neurobehavioral alterations, and discussing the strengths and limitations of Danio rerio for microplastic hazard assessment.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Effects of virgin and weathered polystyrene and polypropylene microplastics on Raphidocelis subcapitata and embryos of Danio rerio under environmental concentrations

Researchers tested the effects of virgin and artificially weathered polystyrene and polypropylene microplastics on freshwater algae and zebrafish embryos at environmentally relevant concentrations. They found that low, realistic concentrations sometimes produced adverse effects such as reduced body length and heart rate in embryos, while higher concentrations did not always cause proportionally greater harm. The study raises concerns that even low environmental concentrations of microplastics may affect freshwater organisms.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Biomarker responses in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae exposed to pristine low-density polyethylene fragments

Researchers exposed zebrafish larvae to pristine low-density polyethylene microplastics and measured biomarker responses, finding altered oxidative stress and metabolic indicators even in early developmental stages.

2017 Environmental Pollution 153 citations
Article Tier 2

Zebrafish embryos as a biological model to study the effects of nanoplastics

This study used zebrafish embryos as a model system to investigate the toxic effects of nanoplastics, finding developmental disruptions at concentrations relevant to environmental exposure. Zebrafish embryos are a widely used model because their transparency allows direct visualization of organ development during toxicant exposure.

2019 Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT)
Article Tier 2

Structure activity toxicity of different micro-nanoplastics on developing Zebrafish (Danio rerio) based on individual polymer chemistry

This dissertation examined the toxicity of individual polymer chemistries—rather than generic microplastic mixtures—on zebrafish embryos and larvae, finding polymer-specific differences in developmental toxicity, behavioral disruption, and biochemical pathway activation across multiple plastic types.

2025 Rutgers University Community Repository (Rutgers University)
Article Tier 2

Multi-biomarkers hazard assessment of microplastics with different polymers by acute embryo test and chronic larvae test with zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers compared the toxicity of four common microplastic types to zebrafish using both short-term embryo and longer-term larval tests. While none of the microplastics affected embryo development at environmentally relevant concentrations, chronic exposure caused accelerated heartbeat rates and altered swimming behavior in larvae. The study highlights that different polymer types produce varying toxic effects and that longer-term exposure assessments may be more revealing than short-term tests.

2023 Aquatic Toxicology 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluating Cardiac Morphology and Heart Rate Alterations Induced by Pyrolysis Microplastics in Danio rerio

This study examined whether microplastics produced from plastic waste pyrolysis cause cardiac developmental abnormalities and heart rate changes in zebrafish embryos. Exposure to pyrolysis-derived microplastics produced dose-dependent cardiac morphology defects and altered heart rates, raising concerns about this underexplored MP source.

2025 UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
Article Tier 2

Toxicological Assessment of Microplastics in Zebrafish: Biochemical Responses and Histopathological Changes

Zebrafish were exposed to polyethylene microplastics (50 and 100 µm) at concentrations from 0.1 to 500 µg/L for up to 24 days, with bioaccumulation found to be dose-dependent and concentrated in the liver and gut. While survival was high (>95%), histopathological damage in liver and intestinal tissue increased significantly with dose.

2025 Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology
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