Papers

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Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nano/microplastics induce microbiota dysbiosis, oxidative damage, and innate immune disruption in zebrafish

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene particles of two different sizes and found that both nano- and micro-sized plastics disrupted gut bacteria, caused oxidative damage, and altered immune responses. The severity of effects depended on particle size and concentration, with smaller particles and higher doses causing more harm. The study suggests that plastic particles in waterways may pose a broader threat to fish health than previously understood, affecting digestion, stress defenses, and immunity simultaneously.

2022 Microbial Pathogenesis 86 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics induce intestinal inflammation, oxidative stress, and disorders of metabolome and microbiome in zebrafish

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics for 21 days and found significant intestinal inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of both the gut microbiome and metabolic processes. The microplastics altered the balance of beneficial and harmful gut bacteria and changed the levels of key metabolites involved in energy and amino acid metabolism. The study provides detailed evidence that microplastic ingestion can cause widespread disruption to gut health in aquatic organisms.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 898 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of Polystyrene Microplastics on Mitochondrial Oxidative Damage in Renal and Muscular Tissues of the Freshwater Fish

Researchers exposed freshwater fish to environmentally relevant concentrations of polystyrene microplastics for up to 15 days and examined mitochondrial damage in kidney and muscle tissues. The exposure disrupted antioxidant defenses, increased oxidative stress, and altered metabolic enzyme activities in both tissue types. Histological examination revealed significant tissue damage including necrosis and degeneration, suggesting that microplastics can cause organ-level toxicity in fish through mitochondrial oxidative stress.

2025 Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Polylactic acid microplastics and fish species intestinal inflammation risk: Associated with mitochondrial function mediated by Sesn2/Nrf2 pathway

Researchers exposed rare minnow fish to polylactic acid microplastics and found that even low concentrations caused intestinal inflammation and disrupted mitochondrial function. The study identified a specific molecular pathway involving the proteins Sesn2 and Nrf2 that mediated the damage. The findings suggest that microplastics from biodegradable plastics may still pose meaningful risks to the gut health of aquatic organisms.

2025 Environment International 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Long-term exposure to microplastics induces intestinal function dysbiosis in rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus)

Researchers exposed rare minnow fish to polystyrene microplastics for up to 28 days and found progressive intestinal dysfunction including structural damage, increased oxidative stress enzyme activity, and disruption of gut microbiota. The study suggests that long-term microplastic exposure can cause cumulative intestinal damage, with inflammation and barrier function impairment worsening over extended exposure periods.

2022 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induce myocardial inflammation and cell death via the TLR4/NF-κB pathway in carp

Researchers exposed carp to polystyrene microplastics and found they caused heart tissue inflammation, cell death, and necrosis through activation of the TLR4/NF-kB inflammatory pathway. The damage increased with higher microplastic concentrations, with both apoptosis and necrosis observed in heart muscle cells. The study provides evidence that microplastic exposure can directly harm cardiovascular tissue in fish.

2023 Fish & Shellfish Immunology 59 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induce endoplasmic reticulum stress, apoptosis and inflammation by disrupting the gut microbiota in carp intestines

Researchers fed carp polystyrene microplastics and found that the particles disrupted their gut bacteria, killing off beneficial species and promoting those linked to diseases. The microplastics triggered a stress response in intestinal cells that led to inflammation, cell death, and tissue damage. Since carp is a widely eaten fish, these gut health effects raise questions about how microplastics in aquatic environments could affect the safety of fish that humans consume.

2023 Environmental Pollution 94 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics impair the intestinal health of the juvenile large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea

Researchers exposed juvenile large yellow croaker fish to nano-sized polystyrene particles to assess impacts on intestinal health and growth. The study found that nanoplastics accumulated in the fish and caused disorders in digestion, antioxidant defenses, immune function, and intestinal microflora, indicating that nanoplastics can significantly impair gut health in commercially important marine fish species.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 190 citations
Article Tier 2

Immune response to polystyrene microplastics: Regulation of inflammatory response via the ROS-driven NF-κB pathway in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics triggered immune system inflammation in zebrafish by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) that activated the NF-kB signaling pathway. The microplastics accumulated mainly in the intestines, causing tissue damage and behavioral changes in the fish. This study identifies a specific molecular mechanism by which microplastics cause immune dysfunction, which could be relevant to understanding inflammation in humans exposed to microplastics.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of polystyrene nanoplastics on the intestinal histopathology, oxidative stress, and microbiota of Acrossocheilus yunnanensis

Researchers studied the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on the intestinal health of a freshwater fish species and found significant damage to the gut lining, including ruptured tissue and damaged nutrient-absorbing structures. The nanoplastics also increased oxidative stress markers and shifted the composition of gut bacteria, reducing beneficial species. The findings suggest that nanoplastic exposure can compromise both the physical barrier and microbial balance of fish intestines.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Interactions between intestinal microbiota and metabolites in zebrafish larvae exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics: Implications for intestinal health and glycolipid metabolism

Zebrafish larvae exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics suffered intestinal damage, including inflammation, oxidative stress, and disrupted gut bacteria -- with increases in bacteria linked to gut disease. The nanoplastics also altered metabolism related to sugar and fat processing, suggesting that ingesting these tiny particles could harm digestive health and disrupt how the body processes nutrients.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment on intestinal health from polylactic acid microplastics degradation on rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus): Inflammation regulation by mitochondrial dysfunction

Researchers exposed rare minnow fish to photodegraded polylactic acid microplastics to assess intestinal health effects. The study found that these biodegradable plastic particles induced visible intestinal damage, triggered inflammation through mitochondrial dysfunction, and caused oxidative stress, suggesting that even biodegradable plastics may pose ecological risks after environmental degradation.

2025 Environmental Research 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics alter the intestinal microbiota function and the hepatic metabolism status in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma)

Researchers fed marine medaka fish polystyrene microplastics of two sizes for 28 days and examined effects on gut microbiota and liver metabolism. They found that microplastic exposure significantly altered the functional composition of gut bacteria and disrupted hepatic metabolic pathways, even without causing visible tissue damage. The study suggests that microplastics can affect fish health through subtle microbiome and metabolic changes that precede obvious physical harm.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 129 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induce gut microbiome and metabolome changes in Javanese medaka fish (Oryzias javanicus Bleeker, 1854)

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastic exposure altered gut microbiome composition and metabolic profiles in Javanese medaka fish, with effects on amino acid and lipid metabolism pathways suggesting microplastics can disrupt gut health in aquatic organisms.

2022 Toxicology Reports 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics induced inflammation and apoptosis via ferroptosis and the NF-κB pathway in carp

Researchers exposed carp to polyethylene microplastics and found they caused serious intestinal damage through two harmful pathways: ferroptosis (a type of iron-dependent cell death) and NF-kB-driven inflammation. The microplastics triggered a buildup of iron and reactive oxygen species in gut tissue, leading to cell death and tissue destruction. Since humans also ingest microplastics that reach the gut, these findings highlight a potential mechanism by which microplastics could damage our digestive system.

2023 Aquatic Toxicology 85 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Polystyrene Microplastic Exposure on Liver Cell Damage, Oxidative Stress, and Gene Expression in Juvenile Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus)

Researchers exposed young crucian carp to polystyrene microplastics at different concentrations and found dose-dependent liver damage, with higher concentrations causing more severe tissue injury and weaker antioxidant defenses. The microplastics disrupted genes involved in detoxification and stress response in liver cells. Since crucian carp is a commonly consumed freshwater fish, these findings raise questions about whether microplastic-contaminated fish could affect the health of people who eat them.

2025 Toxics 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyethylene microplastics trigger cell apoptosis and inflammation via inducing oxidative stress and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in carp gills

Researchers exposed carp gills to polyethylene microplastics and found that the particles triggered cell death and inflammation through oxidative stress and activation of a key immune signaling pathway called the NLRP3 inflammasome. Higher microplastic concentrations caused more severe gill tissue damage and stronger inflammatory responses. The study reveals a specific molecular mechanism by which microplastics can harm the immune function of freshwater fish.

2022 Fish & Shellfish Immunology 149 citations
Article Tier 2

Understanding the links between micro/nanoplastics-induced gut microbes dysbiosis and potential diseases in fish: A review

This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics accumulate in fish intestines and disrupt their gut bacteria, potentially leading to inflammation, immune problems, and metabolic diseases. The disrupted gut microbiome can weaken the intestinal barrier, allowing harmful substances to enter the fish's body. Since fish are a major protein source for billions of people, understanding how microplastics damage fish gut health is important for assessing risks to human food safety.

2024 Environmental Pollution 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Adverse effects of polystyrene microplastics in the freshwater commercial fish, grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella): Emphasis on physiological response and intestinal microbiome

Researchers exposed grass carp to different sizes and concentrations of polystyrene microplastics for up to 14 days, followed by a depuration period, and assessed physiological and intestinal microbiome effects. The study found that microplastics caused histological damage, oxidative stress, and shifts in gut microbial communities, with smaller particles and higher concentrations producing more severe effects.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 70 citations
Article Tier 2

Deleterious Effects of Polypropylene Microplastic Ingestion in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Researchers fed Nile tilapia daily doses of polypropylene microplastics for 30 days and observed significant health effects including changes in blood cell counts, altered gut bacteria, and tissue damage to the intestines and liver. The higher dose group showed more pronounced effects, including elevated inflammatory markers and signs of oxidative stress. The study provides evidence that chronic ingestion of microplastics commonly found in aquatic environments can cause meaningful harm to a widely consumed fish species.

2023 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microparticles can affect the health status of freshwater fish – Threat of oral microplastics intake

Researchers fed juvenile rainbow trout polystyrene microplastics at three dietary concentrations for six weeks and assessed multiple health parameters. They found that the highest concentration triggered immune responses, liver and gill damage, disrupted antioxidant balance, and reduced plasma proteins. The study demonstrates that oral microplastic intake can negatively affect the health of freshwater fish across multiple organ systems.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induce microbiota dysbiosis and inflammation in the gut of adult zebrafish

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics of two different sizes for 14 days and found significant disruptions to the gut microbiome, including shifts in key bacterial populations. Smaller microplastic particles also triggered inflammatory responses in the gut, with elevated levels of inflammatory markers at both the gene and protein level. The study suggests that microplastic ingestion can disturb gut bacteria balance and cause intestinal inflammation in aquatic organisms.

2018 Environmental Pollution 801 citations
Article Tier 2

Study of the effects of nanoplastics ingestion in a freshwater fish ( Danio rerio )

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene nanoplastics and found evidence of intestinal damage, oxidative stress, and behavioral changes. The study adds to growing evidence that nanoplastics in freshwater environments can harm fish health, with potential implications for the health of ecosystems and fish-eating humans.

2021 Annals of Medicine 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of microplastics on freshwater fish (Channa argus): mechanisms of inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy

Freshwater snakehead fish exposed to polystyrene microplastics for four weeks developed inflammation, cell death, and tissue damage in their liver, intestines, kidneys, and gills. The damage worsened with higher microplastic concentrations and involved disruption of the fish's antioxidant defenses and immune system. Since snakehead is a commonly consumed fish in Asia, these findings raise questions about whether microplastics in aquaculture environments could affect the safety of fish as human food.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 8 citations