Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

ZEB316: A Small Stand-Alone Housing System to Study Microplastics in Small Teleosts

This paper describes a new small laboratory housing system (ZEB316) designed to expose zebrafish and medaka to microplastics under controlled, contamination-free conditions. The system uses inert materials to eliminate background plastic exposure, improving the reliability of toxicology experiments in small fish.

2020 Zebrafish 2 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

Multi-Laboratory Hazard Assessment of Contaminated Microplastic Particles by Means of Enhanced Fish Embryo Test With the Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

A multi-laboratory study using an enhanced zebrafish embryo test assessed the hazard of microplastics contaminated with environmental pollutants, finding that the combination of plastics and sorbed chemicals caused greater toxicity than either alone. The inter-laboratory approach helps validate this testing method for regulatory use in assessing microplastic hazards.

2019 Frontiers in Environmental Science 47 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

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

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

Rethinking the relevance of microplastics as vector for anthropogenic contaminants: Adsorption of toxicants to microplastics during exposure in a highly polluted stream - Analytical quantification and assessment of toxic effects in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed microplastics in a highly polluted stream to assess their role as contaminant vectors, then tested effects on zebrafish, finding that naturally contaminated microplastics had limited additional toxicity compared to the polluted water itself.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of naturally-aged microplastics on zebrafish juveniles: A more realistic approach to plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems

Researchers exposed juvenile zebrafish to naturally aged polystyrene microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations for five days. They found that the microplastics disrupted the fish's antioxidant defenses, indicating oxidative stress, and caused measurable cellular and neurological impacts. The study suggests that even short-term exposure to realistic levels of weathered microplastics can affect the health of freshwater organisms.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 162 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

Microplastics in Limnic Ecosystems - Investigation of Biological Fate and Effects of Microplastic Particles and Associated Contaminants in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)-

This doctoral thesis investigated how microplastics and their associated chemical contaminants affect zebrafish (Danio rerio) in freshwater environments, including ingestion, tissue accumulation, and toxicological effects. The research demonstrates that microplastics can act as vectors for pollutants like pesticides and pharmaceuticals, compounding their harmful effects on aquatic organisms.

2020 heiDOK (Heidelberg University) 5 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

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

Evaluation of Toxicological Risks and Effects of Microplastics on Nile Tilapia (Oreochromisniloticus) under in Vitro Laboratory Conditions

This laboratory study evaluated the toxicological effects of microplastics on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) under controlled conditions, finding measurable harm at the concentrations tested. The results have implications for managing fish health in aquaculture operations with microplastic-contaminated water.

2023 East African Journal of Biophysical and Computational Sciences 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

Chronic Exposure of Adult Zebrafish to Polyethylene and Polyester-based Microplastics: Metabolomic and Gut Microbiome Alterations Reflecting Dysbiosis and Resilience

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polyethylene and polyester microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations and found significant disruptions to metabolic pathways and gut microbiome composition. Polyethylene primarily affected cell membrane compounds and inflammation-related metabolites, while polyester altered lipid metabolism and gut bacterial interactions. The study reveals that chronic microplastic exposure can cause subtle but meaningful shifts in fish metabolism and gut health, even at low concentrations.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Determination of microplastics toxicity

Lab experiments tested the toxicity of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene microplastics on a green alga, a water flea, and zebrafish embryos, finding harmful effects at various concentrations. The study provides toxicological data supporting that microplastics pose real risks to aquatic organisms.

2020 Repository of Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology University of Zagreb
Article Tier 2

Toxicological Evaluation of Microplastic Extracts in Zebrafish Behavior by Light–Dark and Startle Response Assays

Researchers evaluated the toxicological effects of chemical extracts leached from microplastics on zebrafish behavior using light-dark preference and startle response tests. The study found that microplastic leachates altered fish behavioral patterns, indicating that chemicals released from degraded plastics can have measurable neurobehavioral effects on aquatic organisms.

2026 UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
Article Tier 2

Toxicity evaluation of the combination of emerging pollutants with polyethylene microplastics in zebrafish: Perspective study of genotoxicity, mutagenicity, and redox unbalance

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polyethylene microplastics combined with a mixture of common water pollutants for 15 days and assessed DNA damage, mutation rates, and oxidative stress. They found that microplastics alone caused DNA damage and nuclear abnormalities as severe as those caused by the pollutant mixture, challenging the assumption that microplastics are less harmful than chemical contaminants. The study revealed that the fish's antioxidant defenses were overwhelmed across multiple organs, suggesting widespread oxidative damage from microplastic exposure.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 93 citations
Article Tier 2

Acute toxic effects of polyethylene microplastic on adult zebrafish

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polyethylene microplastics of various sizes to identify physical effects, behavioral changes, and gene expression impacts. They found that microplastic ingestion varied by particle size and that exposure altered expression of detoxification and reproduction-related genes. The study suggests that microplastic pollution at environmentally relevant concentrations could affect both the health and reproductive capacity of fish.

2019 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 290 citations
Article Tier 2

The distinct toxicity effects between commercial and realistic polystyrene microplastics on microbiome and histopathology of gut in zebrafish

Researchers compared the toxic effects of commercially manufactured polystyrene microplastics with environmentally weathered ones on the gut microbiome and intestinal tissue of zebrafish. The study found that the two types of microplastics produced distinct effects, suggesting that commonly used commercial microplastics in laboratory studies may not accurately represent the impacts of real-world microplastic pollution.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 67 citations
Article Tier 2

The Toxicity of Polyethylene Microplastic Exposure and Its Concurrent Effect With Aeromonas Hydrophila Infection To Zebrafish

This study exposed adult zebrafish to polyethylene microplastics while simultaneously infecting them with Aeromonas hydrophila bacteria, a common fish pathogen. Microplastic exposure worsened bacterial infection outcomes, suggesting that plastic pollution may reduce fish immune defenses. The interaction between microplastic contamination and disease susceptibility is relevant to understanding how pollution affects aquatic ecosystem health.

2021 Research Square (Research Square) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Accumulation and Distribution of Fluorescent Microplastics in the Early Life Stages of Zebrafish

Researchers tracked the accumulation and distribution of fluorescent microplastics in early life stages of a freshwater organism, finding that microplastics were taken up and distributed across body tissues. The results help explain how microplastics accumulate in young aquatic organisms and potentially affect their development.

2021 Journal of Visualized Experiments 5 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

Behavioural impact of microplastics on zebrafish development

Researchers assessed the developmental effects of environmentally relevant, household-derived microplastic fragments on zebrafish, rather than the pristine polymer spheres typically used in lab studies. While exposure did not cause embryonic death or gross malformations, the study found significant sublethal effects including reduced touch-evoked escape responses in larvae, suggesting behavioral impacts from realistic microplastic exposure.

2026