Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Influence of microplastics on bisphenol A and bisphenol AF toxicity in aquatic environments: Mechanistic insights for environmental risks

Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics interact with the industrial chemicals bisphenol A and bisphenol AF in zebrafish, finding that microplastics can either reduce or worsen the toxicity depending on the specific chemical and biological pathway involved. For bisphenol A, the microplastics partially absorbed the chemical and reduced its harmful effects, but for bisphenol AF, they worsened toxicity to certain organ systems. The study reveals that microplastics play a complicated dual role in modifying how other pollutants affect aquatic life.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of microplastics on the bioconcentration of organic contaminants in fish: Is the “Trojan horse” effect a matter of concern?

Researchers tested whether microplastic ingestion increases the bioconcentration of hydrophobic organic chemicals in zebrafish, examining the so-called 'Trojan horse' effect. They found that exposure to contaminated polyethylene microplastics did not significantly increase chemical accumulation in fish compared to waterborne exposure alone. The study suggests that for these chemicals, direct water exposure remains the dominant uptake pathway, and the microplastic carrier effect may be less concerning than previously thought.

2022 Environmental Pollution 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects on Zebrafish of Chemical Contaminants and Additives Present in Microplastics

Researchers fed zebrafish for 60 days on diets containing 10% environmental microplastics collected from beaches in Lanzarote and Tenerife, alongside clean pellet and control groups, then analyzed chemical contaminants in tissues by liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. Results confirmed bioaccumulation of plastic additives and chemical contaminants in zebrafish tissues over time, with plastic synthesizers reaching the highest tissue concentrations followed by plasticizers.

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

Influence of microplastic-associated biofilms on the bioavailability of a mixture of cadmium and benzo[a]pyrene by the analysis of biomarker gene expression in larval zebrafish

Researchers found that microbial biofilms — thin layers of bacteria that coat microplastics in water — selectively reduce how much of a toxic chemical called benzo[a]pyrene gets absorbed by larval zebrafish, while not affecting cadmium absorption, showing that microplastics can act as complex, biology-influenced carriers of multiple pollutants simultaneously.

2023 Ecological Indicators 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Sorption of PFOS onto polystyrene microplastics potentiates synergistic toxic effects during zebrafish embryogenesis and neurodevelopment

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics can absorb PFOS (a persistent industrial chemical) from water and deliver it to zebrafish embryos in a more concentrated form. The combination caused worse developmental problems than either pollutant alone, including delayed hatching, higher death rates, birth defects, and impaired brain development. This shows microplastics can act as carriers that intensify the toxic effects of other environmental chemicals.

2024 Chemosphere 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Further negative effect of fibrous microplastics to the bioaccumulation and toxicity of decabromodiphenyl ethane on zebrafish

Researchers investigated how fibrous microplastics from PET plastic interact with a common flame retardant chemical called DBDPE in zebrafish over 28 days. They found that microplastics significantly increased the amount of the flame retardant that accumulated in fish tissue and slowed its elimination from the body. The study suggests that microplastics may act as carriers for other toxic chemicals, amplifying their harmful effects on aquatic organisms.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of microplastics and chemical contaminants on the organ toxicity of zebrafish ( Danio rerio )

Researchers studied the combined effects of microplastics and chemical contaminants like PCBs and methylmercury on zebrafish organs over three weeks of exposure. They found that microplastics carrying adsorbed contaminants produced the most significant effects, particularly on the liver, compared to either microplastics or contaminants alone. The results indicate that microplastics may act as carriers that increase the delivery of harmful chemicals to organisms' tissues.

2018 Environmental Research 406 citations
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

Assessment of microplastic-sorbed contaminant bioavailability through analysis of biomarker gene expression in larval zebrafish

Researchers examined whether contaminants sorbed to microplastics become bioavailable when ingested by larval zebrafish, using phenanthrene and ethinylestradiol as test chemicals. The study found that microplastics can alter the bioavailability of co-contaminants, as evidenced by changes in biomarker gene expression in the fish larvae.

2017 Marine Pollution Bulletin 183 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic accumulation patterns and transfer of benzo[a]pyrene to adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) gills and zebrafish embryos

Researchers studied how microplastics accumulate on zebrafish gills and embryos and whether the particles can transfer the toxic compound benzo[a]pyrene. They found that while microplastics did not permanently accumulate at high levels on gills, the particles did transfer measurable amounts of the pollutant to both gill tissue and embryos. The results indicate that microplastics can serve as carriers for persistent organic pollutants even through non-ingestion exposure routes.

2018 Environmental Pollution 256 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhanced uptake of BPA in the presence of nanoplastics can lead to neurotoxic effects in adult zebrafish

Researchers found that nanoplastics amplify bisphenol A (BPA) accumulation in zebrafish tissues by 2- to 2.6-fold and that co-exposure enhances neurotoxic effects — including myelin disruption and dopaminergic system changes — beyond what either contaminant causes alone.

2017 The Science of The Total Environment 446 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

Toxicity of parental co-exposure of microplastic and bisphenol compounds on adult zebrafish: Multi-omics investigations on offspring

When adult zebrafish were exposed to combinations of microplastics with bisphenol A (BPA) or bisphenol S (BPS), the reproductive damage was worse than from any single pollutant alone, and the effects carried over to their offspring. The BPA-microplastic combination primarily affected brain function, while BPS-microplastic exposure mainly disrupted visual development in the next generation. This study highlights that microplastics can amplify the harmful effects of common plastic chemicals, with consequences that extend to future generations.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as potential bisphenol carriers: role of adsorbents, adsorbates, and environmental factors

Laboratory experiments showed that four common microplastic types — polystyrene, polypropylene, polyamide, and PVC — all readily adsorb bisphenols (BPA, BPB, BPF, BPS), with polyamide showing the highest capacity. Adsorption was strongly influenced by polymer surface chemistry, bisphenol hydrophobicity, temperature, and salinity. Because bisphenols are potent endocrine disruptors, microplastics acting as their environmental carriers could amplify human and wildlife exposure through contaminated seafood and drinking water.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics modulate the toxic effects of bisphenol A in the early stages of zebrafish development

This study investigated whether polystyrene microplastics affect the toxicity of bisphenol A (BPA) during zebrafish embryo development by co-exposing fish to both contaminants. The PS microplastics modulated BPA toxicity in complex ways—in some developmental endpoints amplifying harm, in others providing partial protection—underscoring the unpredictability of combined plastic-chemical exposures.

2025 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology
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

Potentiation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon uptake in zebrafish embryos by nanoplastics

Nanoplastics present in the environment were found to enhance the uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in zebrafish embryos, suggesting that plastic particles can act as a "Trojan horse" that increases exposure to other toxic pollutants. This combined toxicity effect raises important concerns about the true health risks of microplastic contamination.

2020 Environmental Science Nano 51 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

Microplastics as a Vector for Exposure to Hydrophobic Organic Chemicals in Fish: A Comparison of Two Polymers and Silica Particles Spiked With Three Model Compounds

Three-spined sticklebacks fed microplastic-contaminated diets showed measurable transfer of hydrophobic chemicals (including an estrogen mimic, a pesticide, and a PAH) from the plastics into fish tissues, though transfer rates were low. The study confirms that ingested microplastics can act as vectors for chemical contaminants in fish, even if the overall exposure remains modest.

2020 Frontiers in Environmental Science 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Bisphenol A and its analogs in muscle and liver of fish from the North East Atlantic Ocean in relation to microplastic contamination. Exposure and risk to human consumers

Researchers measured levels of bisphenol A and related compounds in the muscle and liver of three fish species from the North East Atlantic Ocean and assessed the relationship with microplastic contamination. Fish containing microplastics had significantly higher concentrations of bisphenols than those without, suggesting microplastics may be a vehicle for chemical contamination. The estimated health risk from consuming these fish exceeded safety thresholds set by the European Food Safety Authority.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 306 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics enhance the microcystin-LR-induced gonadal damage and reproductive endocrine disruption in zebrafish

Zebrafish exposed to polystyrene microplastics along with microcystin-LR (a common toxin from algae blooms) suffered worse reproductive damage than when exposed to either pollutant alone. The microplastics acted as carriers that increased the amount of toxin accumulating in the fish's reproductive organs. This study demonstrates that microplastics can worsen the effects of other water pollutants by helping toxic chemicals build up in the body.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 73 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of high-fat diet and polystyrene microplastic exposure on microplastic bioaccumulation and lipid metabolism in zebrafish

Researchers studied how a high-fat diet combined with polystyrene microplastic exposure affects zebrafish, finding that obese fish accumulated significantly more microplastics in their tissues. The high-fat diet disrupted lipid metabolism and created conditions that increased microplastic retention in the body. This suggests that diet and body fat levels may influence how much microplastic accumulates in living organisms, with potential implications for human health.

2023 Fish & Shellfish Immunology 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Sorbed environmental contaminants increase the harmful effects of microplastics in adult zebrafish, Danio rerio

Researchers found that microplastics carrying sorbed environmental contaminants (DDE, BP-3, chlorpyrifos) caused greater harmful effects on adult zebrafish health and behavior than pristine microplastics alone, demonstrating their role as pollutant vectors.

2023 Aquatic Toxicology 14 citations
Article Tier 2

The significance of trophic transfer of microplastics in the accumulation of plastic additives in fish: An experimental study using brominated flame retardants and UV stabilizers

Researchers found that trophic transfer through food is a more significant route than direct water exposure for fish accumulation of plastic-derived chemicals, including brominated flame retardants and UV stabilizers associated with microplastics.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 22 citations