Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastics and 17α Ethinylestradiol: How Do Different Aquatic Invertebrates Respond to This Combination of Contaminants?

Researchers tested how microplastics combined with the synthetic hormone ethinylestradiol, a common contraceptive ingredient found in wastewater, affect two tropical estuarine species: oysters and crabs. They found that microplastics carrying the hormone increased toxic effects compared to either pollutant alone, causing oxidative stress and cellular damage across multiple organs. The study suggests that the combination of microplastics and hormone pollutants in waterways may pose greater risks to aquatic life than previously recognized.

2024 Toxics 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and bisphenol A co-exposure causes oxidative damage and induces ion regulation disorders in the gills of Portunus trituberculatus

Researchers investigated the combined toxic effects of microplastics and bisphenol A on the gills of swimming crabs over a 21-day exposure period. The study found that co-exposure caused more severe oxidative damage and disrupted ion regulation compared to either pollutant alone, suggesting that microplastics and endocrine-disrupting chemicals together amplify harm to marine crustaceans.

2026 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology
Article Tier 2

Accumulation of polystyrene microplastics in juvenile Eriocheir sinensis and oxidative stress effects in the liver

Researchers exposed juvenile Chinese mitten crabs to polystyrene microplastics and found that the particles accumulated in gill, liver, and gut tissues, causing oxidative stress in the liver. Higher microplastic concentrations reduced growth rates and caused measurable changes in liver enzyme activity. The study provides evidence that microplastic pollution can impair the growth and liver health of commercially important crustacean species.

2018 Aquatic Toxicology 599 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics increase Pb bioaccumulation and health damage in the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics significantly increased the accumulation of lead in the tissues of Chinese mitten crabs when both pollutants were present together. The combined exposure caused more severe oxidative stress, disrupted fat metabolism, and increased liver damage compared to lead exposure alone. The study suggests that microplastics can act as carriers for heavy metals in aquatic environments, amplifying their toxic effects on commercially important seafood species.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 80 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and copper on gill tissue structure, metabolism, and immune function of the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)

This study found that nanoplastics and copper together caused more damage to crab gill tissue than either pollutant alone, disrupting the animals' antioxidant defenses, metabolism, and immune function. The combined exposure suppressed important detoxification genes that help the crabs cope with environmental stress. Since crabs are a common seafood, these findings raise concerns about how co-occurring pollutants in waterways could affect both aquatic life and the safety of shellfish for human consumption.

2025 Frontiers in Marine Science 8 citations
Article Tier 2

The combined effects of microplastics and bisphenol-A on the innate immune system response and intestinal microflora of the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus

Swimming crabs exposed to both microplastics and bisphenol-A (BPA, a chemical found in many plastics) for 21 days showed weakened immune responses and disrupted gut bacteria compared to exposure to either pollutant alone. The combination caused more intestinal damage and greater shifts in gene activity related to immune defense. This suggests that microplastics and the chemicals they carry can work together to cause greater harm to marine organisms than either one would cause by itself.

2024 Aquatic Toxicology 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and bisphenol A exposure induce hepatopancreatic damage and lipid metabolism disorders in Portunus trituberculatus

This study exposed female swimming crabs (Portunus trituberculatus) to microplastics and bisphenol A individually and in combination, finding that both pollutants caused hepatopancreatic damage and lipid metabolism disruption via distinct but overlapping mechanisms. Combined exposure produced additive harm to liver-like tissue and metabolic function.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on the innate immunity and intestinal microflora of juvenile Eriocheir sinensis

Researchers exposed juvenile Chinese mitten crabs to different concentrations of microplastics for up to 21 days and measured immune responses and gut microbiome changes. They found that microplastic exposure disrupted immune enzyme activities and altered the composition of intestinal bacteria, with effects intensifying at higher concentrations and longer exposure times. The study suggests that microplastic pollution may compromise the immune health and gut ecology of freshwater crustaceans.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 294 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the co-exposure effects of environmentally relevant microplastics and an estrogenic mixture on the metabolome of the Sydney rock oyster

Researchers exposed Sydney rock oysters to microplastics and estrogen-like chemicals together, mimicking conditions found near wastewater treatment plant outflows. While the oysters showed no visible physical changes, their internal metabolism was significantly disrupted, with changes varying by tissue type and sex. Since oysters are a common food source, these hidden metabolic effects could have implications for seafood quality and the transfer of pollutants to humans.

2024 Chemosphere 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of combined exposure to polystyrene microplastics and 17α-Methyltestosterone on the reproductive system of zebrafish

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics combined with a synthetic hormone (17-alpha-methyltestosterone) and found that the combination caused more severe reproductive damage than either substance alone. The co-exposure reduced mature egg and sperm production, disrupted hormone-related gene expression, and lowered reproductive hormone levels. This suggests that microplastics can make the effects of hormone-disrupting chemicals in the environment worse, which is concerning for both wildlife and human reproductive health.

2023 Theriogenology 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and bisphenol A hamper gonadal development of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) by interfering with metabolism and disrupting hormone regulation

Researchers studied how microplastics and the industrial chemical bisphenol A, individually and combined, affect reproductive development in whiteleg shrimp. Both pollutants suppressed gonadal growth, disrupted metabolism, and interfered with hormone regulation, with the combination proving more toxic than either substance alone. The findings suggest that microplastics and BPA together may pose a significant threat to the reproductive success of commercially important crustacean species.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 124 citations
Article Tier 2

New insights into the responding mechanism of Eriocheir sinensis hepatopancreas under nanoplastics and copper stress by transcriptome analysis

Researchers used transcriptome analysis to investigate how nanoplastics and copper individually and in combination affect the hepatopancreas of Chinese mitten crabs. They found that co-exposure led to greater accumulation and more severe tissue damage than either pollutant alone, with significant disruptions to immune and metabolic gene pathways. The study suggests that nanoplastics may enhance the toxicity of heavy metals in aquatic organisms through synergistic interactions.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics and bisphenol A exposure alone or in combination induce hepatopancreatic damage and disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism in the Portunus trituberculatus

Researchers exposed swimming crabs to nanoplastics and bisphenol A, both individually and in combination, and examined the effects on their hepatopancreas over 21 days. They found that combined exposure caused more severe organ damage and greater disruption to carbohydrate metabolism than either pollutant alone. The study indicates that the co-occurrence of nanoplastics and common plastic additives in marine environments may pose compounding health risks to crustaceans.

2024 Aquatic Toxicology 7 citations
Article Tier 2

The Combined Effects of Cadmium and Microplastic Mixtures on the Digestion, Energy Metabolism, Oxidative Stress Regulation, Immune Function, and Metabolomes in the Pearl Oyster (Pinctada fucata martensii)

Researchers studied the combined effects of cadmium and microplastics on pearl oysters, measuring impacts on digestion, energy use, immune function, and metabolism. They found that co-exposure to both pollutants caused more severe damage than either alone, disrupting the oysters' antioxidant defenses and metabolic processes. The study highlights the compounding threat that metal and microplastic pollution together pose to marine shellfish.

2025 Fishes 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Low pH aggravates the toxicity of polystyrene microplastics in crab Eriocheir sinensis: Evidence from metabolome and intestinal microflora

Researchers found that combining acidic water (low pH) with polystyrene microplastics caused worse harm to Chinese mitten crabs than either stressor alone, disrupting their immune system, energy metabolism, and gut bacteria. The findings highlight that climate change-driven water acidification could amplify the toxicity of microplastics in freshwater wildlife.

2025 Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Synergistic effects of polystyrene microplastics and 17α-methyltestosterone on immune and oxidative stress responses in the gill and liver of Gobiocypris rarus

Researchers investigated the combined effects of polystyrene microplastics and the synthetic hormone 17-alpha-methyltestosterone on the gills and liver of rare minnows. The study found that co-exposure caused the most severe tissue damage, with significant upregulation of immune and oxidative stress genes and disrupted antioxidant enzyme activities, suggesting synergistic toxicity between these two pollutants.

2026 Fish & Shellfish Immunology
Article Tier 2

Synergistic effects of microplastic and lead trigger physiological and biochemical impairment in a mangrove crab

Researchers exposed mangrove fiddler crabs to microplastics and lead, both alone and in combination, to assess their joint toxic effects. They found that co-exposure synergistically increased lead bioaccumulation, oxygen consumption, and lipid peroxidation while suppressing antioxidant enzyme activity. The study suggests that microplastics can amplify the physiological harm of heavy metal contamination in sensitive mangrove ecosystems.

2023 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to bisphenol A and fiber-type microplastics induce oxidative stress and cell damage in disk abalone Haliotis discus hannai: Bioaccumulation and toxicity

Researchers exposed disk abalone to bisphenol A and fiber-type microplastics, both individually and in combination, to assess their toxic effects. They found that co-exposure caused greater oxidative stress and cellular damage than either pollutant alone, and that both contaminants accumulated in abalone tissues. The study suggests that the combined presence of microplastics and industrial chemicals in marine environments poses amplified risks to shellfish health.

2023 Fish & Shellfish Immunology 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of microplastics and benzo[a]pyrene on Asian sea bass Lates calcarifer growth and expression of functional genes

Researchers exposed juvenile Asian sea bass to polyethylene microplastics and the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene, both individually and in combination, over 56 days. They found that co-exposure caused more severe effects on growth and gene expression related to immune function and stress response than either contaminant alone. The study highlights that microplastics may worsen the toxic effects of chemical pollutants already present in marine environments.

2024 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Immunotoxicity of microplastics and polychlorinated biphenyls alone or in combination to Crassostrea gigas

Researchers exposed oysters to microplastics and PCBs (industrial chemicals) both alone and together, finding that the combination caused significantly worse immune damage than either pollutant on its own. The pollutants reduced the oysters' ability to fight infection, increased cell damage, and triggered cell death pathways. This synergistic effect is concerning because microplastics in the ocean often carry other toxic chemicals, potentially making contaminated seafood a greater health risk.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined ecotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics and Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate increase exposure risks to Mytilus coruscus based on the bioaccumulation, oxidative stress, metabolic profiles, and nutritional interferences

Researchers exposed hard-shelled mussels to a common plastic additive (DEHP) and polystyrene microplastics together, and found that the microplastics increased how much DEHP accumulated in the animals' digestive organs. The combined exposure disrupted the mussels' antioxidant defenses and altered their metabolic processes more than either pollutant alone. The study suggests that microplastics can amplify the harmful effects of chemical pollutants in marine organisms.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics amplify the toxic effects of PFOA on the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)

Nanoplastics amplified the toxic effects of PFOA (a "forever chemical") in Chinese mitten crabs, worsening oxidative stress, immune disruption, and intestinal inflammation beyond what either pollutant caused alone. The combination disrupted fat metabolism and triggered cell death pathways, demonstrating how two common environmental contaminants can interact to create greater health risks in organisms that humans consume as food.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of co-exposure to microcystin-LR and polystyrene microplastics on growth, brain pathology and thyroid hormone homeostasis in adult zebrafish

Researchers exposed zebrafish to microcystin-LR (a toxin from algal blooms) combined with polystyrene microplastics and found that the combination caused significantly worse brain damage and thyroid hormone disruption than either pollutant alone. The microplastics appeared to overwhelm the fish's ability to compensate for the algal toxin, leading to hormone imbalances that could affect growth and development. This is concerning because algal blooms and microplastics frequently occur together in polluted waterways, and their combined effects on the hormone system may be worse than expected.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Individual and combined effects of microplastics and diphenyl phthalate as plastic additives on male goldfish: A biochemical and physiological investigation

Male goldfish exposed to both microplastics and the plasticizer chemical DPP (diphenyl phthalate) together showed significant liver damage, disrupted fat and sugar metabolism, and hormonal imbalances including decreased testosterone and increased estrogen. The combined exposure was more harmful than either pollutant alone, demonstrating how microplastics and their chemical additives can work together to disrupt the endocrine system.

2025 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 12 citations