Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Co-exposure to microplastics and bisphenol A increases viral susceptibility in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) via oxidative stress

Researchers found that juvenile fish exposed to both microplastics and BPA (a chemical found in plastics) together became more susceptible to viral infection, even though neither pollutant alone had that effect. The combination shut down the fish's antioxidant defenses and caused liver cell death, weakening their immune system. This study is important because it shows that common pollutants can interact in unexpected ways, and real-world exposure to multiple contaminants may be more dangerous than lab tests of single substances suggest.

2025 Advanced Biotechnology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics increase mercury bioconcentration in gills and bioaccumulation in the liver, and cause oxidative stress and damage in Dicentrarchus labrax juveniles

Researchers exposed juvenile European sea bass to mercury, microplastics, and their mixture for 96 hours and found that microplastics increased mercury bioconcentration in gills and bioaccumulation in the liver. The combination of microplastics and mercury also caused greater oxidative stress and lipid damage than either contaminant alone, suggesting microplastics may amplify the toxicity of co-occurring pollutants.

2018 Scientific Reports 281 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-exposure to different sized polystyrene microplastics and benzo[a]pyrene affected inflammation in zebrafish andbronchial-associated cells

Researchers found that co-exposure to different sizes of polystyrene microplastics together with the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene produced greater toxic effects in aquatic organisms than either pollutant alone. The study highlights the importance of studying microplastic interactions with other contaminants rather than treating them as isolated stressors.

2020 Chinese Science Bulletin (Chinese Version) 4 citations
Article Tier 2

The impact of combined exposure to triphenyltin and microplastics on the oxidative stress, energy metabolism, and digestive function of common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Exposing common carp to triphenyltin and microplastics individually and in combination found that combined exposure caused greater oxidative stress, disrupted energy metabolism more severely, and more strongly impaired digestive enzyme activity than either pollutant alone.

2025 Frontiers in Environmental Science
Article Tier 2

Toxicological effects of microplastics and phenanthrene to zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics, the pollutant phenanthrene, and a combination of both to assess their toxicity over 24 days. They found that co-exposure amplified oxidative stress, suppressed immune gene expression, and significantly disrupted the gut microbiome compared to either contaminant alone. The study suggests that microplastics can worsen the toxic effects of organic pollutants in aquatic organisms by altering how chemicals accumulate and interact in the body.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 190 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined impacts of organophosphate pesticide and polyamide microplastics on growth, hematology, and immune responses in juvenile striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus)

Researchers exposed juvenile striped catfish to both polyamide microplastics and an organophosphate pesticide, finding that the combination caused more severe growth reduction, immune suppression, and organ damage than either pollutant alone — evidence that microplastics and pesticides can act together to amplify harm in freshwater fish.

2025 Emerging contaminants 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Single and combined effects of microplastics and cadmium on juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

Researchers found that combined exposure to polystyrene microplastics and cadmium in juvenile grass carp caused greater physiological stress than either pollutant alone, with microplastics enhancing cadmium accumulation and intensifying oxidative stress and immune responses.

2022 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of polystyrene microplastics and cadmium on oxidative stress, apoptosis, and GH/IGF axis in zebrafish early life stages

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene microplastics and cadmium, both alone and together, and found that the combination caused significantly worse effects than either pollutant individually. Co-exposure amplified oxidative stress, increased cell death in the spine and esophagus, and disrupted growth hormone pathways more severely than single exposures. The findings suggest that microplastics and heavy metals in waterways may interact to create heightened risks for developing fish.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 100 citations
Article Tier 2

Metabolic profile changes of zebrafish larvae in the single- and co-exposures of microplastics and phenanthrene

Researchers exposed zebrafish larvae to microplastics and the pollutant phenanthrene, both individually and together, and analyzed changes in their metabolic profiles. They found that combined exposure triggered unique metabolic disruptions not seen with either contaminant alone, particularly in amino acid metabolism pathways. The study provides evidence that microplastics and organic pollutants can interact to produce novel toxic effects in aquatic organisms.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro-polystyrene plastic and benzo[α]pyrene exposure affects the endocrine system and causes physiological stress in Carassius auratus

Researchers found that combined exposure to polystyrene microplastics and benzo[a]pyrene caused significantly greater endocrine disruption, oxidative stress, and DNA damage in goldfish than either pollutant alone, with effects intensifying through the hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal axis.

2023 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of polystyrene microbeads and benzo[α]pyrene on bioaccumulation, antioxidant response, and cell damage in goldfish Carassius auratus

Researchers exposed goldfish to polystyrene microbeads and benzo[a]pyrene, both individually and in combination, to assess their toxic effects over 120 hours. They found that combined exposure significantly increased oxidative stress, liver damage, and cell death compared to single-compound exposure. The study suggests that microplastics can act as carriers for harmful chemicals, amplifying their toxic impact on aquatic organisms.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic and oil pollutant agglomerates synergistically intensify toxicity in the marine fish, Asian seabass, Lates calcalifer

Researchers exposed Asian seabass fry to polystyrene microplastics, oil, and their combined agglomerates for 15 days. The study found synergistic toxic effects from the combined exposure, including altered blood parameters and tissue lesions in gills, liver, and intestine, suggesting that microplastic-oil agglomerates intensify toxicity beyond what either pollutant causes alone.

2023 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Unveil new insights into microplastic and benzo[a]pyrene toxicity in the seaworm Hediste diversicolor coelomic fluid: A transdisciplinary approach

Researchers studied how microplastics and the carcinogenic pollutant benzo[a]pyrene affect the internal body fluid of marine seaworms, both individually and in combination. They found that microplastics enhanced the accumulation of the pollutant in the worms' immune cells and that combined exposure caused more severe DNA damage and cell death than either contaminant alone. The study demonstrates that microplastics can amplify the harmful effects of chemical pollutants in marine invertebrates.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of single and combined effects of cadmium and micro-plastic particles on biochemical and immunological parameters of common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Researchers investigated the individual and combined toxicity of cadmium and polystyrene microplastics on common carp over 30 days. They found that co-exposure to both pollutants produced more severe effects on liver enzymes, immune function, and biochemical markers than either pollutant alone. The study suggests that microplastics can enhance the toxicity of heavy metals in aquatic organisms, raising concerns about the combined impact of these co-occurring contaminants.

2019 Chemosphere 323 citations
Article Tier 2

Biochemical effects of polypropylene microplastics on red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) after individual and combined exposure with boron

Researchers exposed red tilapia to polypropylene microplastics alone and combined with boron, finding that the mixture disrupted key brain and liver enzymes more severely than either pollutant alone. The study shows that microplastics can amplify the toxic effects of other environmental contaminants in fish.

2023 Environmental Sciences Europe 18 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Unlocking the combined impact of microplastics and emerging contaminants on fish: A review and meta-analysis

This meta-analysis found that combined exposure to microplastics and emerging contaminants adversely affects fish reproduction, development, and neurotoxicity beyond what either pollutant causes alone. Microplastics with higher adsorption capacities led to more severe outcomes by concentrating and delivering co-contaminants, though exposure duration did not correlate with oxidative stress levels.

2024 Aquatic Toxicology 10 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
Article Tier 2

Impact of environmental microplastics alone and mixed with benzo[a]pyrene on cellular and molecular responses of Mytilus galloprovincialis

Researchers exposed Mediterranean mussels to environmentally collected microplastics from a beach, both alone and combined with the pollutant benzo[a]pyrene, at ecologically relevant concentrations. The study found that even short-term exposure caused cellular and molecular responses in the mussels, and the combination of microplastics with chemical pollutants produced different effects than either contaminant alone.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 69 citations
Article Tier 2

The synergetic effects of 4-nonylphenol and polyethylene microplastics in Cyprinus carpio juveniles using blood biomarkers

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics and the endocrine disruptor 4-nonylphenol produce synergistic toxic effects in juvenile carp, with combined exposure causing greater disruption to blood biomarkers than either contaminant alone.

2023 Scientific Reports 11 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Effects of microplastics on the toxicity of co-existing pollutants to fish: A meta-analysis

Meta-analysis of 1,380 biological endpoints from 55 studies found that microplastics in co-existing pollutant solutions significantly increased toxicity to fish beyond what the pollutants caused alone, particularly elevating immune system damage, metabolic disruption, and oxidative stress. The effect depended on fish life stage and microplastic size, but not on pollutant or polymer type.

2023 Water Research 81 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Detoxification‐Related Gene Expression, Oxidative Stress Biomarkers, and Blood Biochemical Parameters in Common Carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) Co‐Exposed to Polyethylene Microplastics and Deltamethrin

Researchers investigated whether polyethylene microplastics worsen the toxic effects of the insecticide deltamethrin in juvenile common carp over a 30-day exposure. The study found that co-exposure to microplastics and deltamethrin affected detoxification-related gene expression, oxidative stress biomarkers, and blood biochemistry, suggesting that microplastics can modify the bioavailability and toxicity of co-occurring pesticides in fish.

2026 Journal of Applied Toxicology
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

Interactive effects of microplastics and benzo[a]pyrene on two species of marine invertebrates

Researchers found that low-density polyethylene microplastics alone did not cause toxicity to sea urchin embryos or mysids, but their interaction with benzo[a]pyrene modified the pollutant's bioavailability and toxicity in marine invertebrates at environmentally relevant concentrations.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-exposure toxicity of microplastic and sumithion in Nile tilapia – changes in growth, hematology, histopathology of internal tissues and immune-antioxidant genes expression

Researchers studied the combined effects of polyamide microplastics and the pesticide sumithion on Nile tilapia, a widely farmed fish species. They found that co-exposure reduced growth, disrupted blood parameters, caused tissue damage in gills and intestines, and altered immune and antioxidant gene expression more severely than either pollutant alone. The study highlights that microplastics and pesticides together may pose amplified threats to fish health in contaminated aquaculture environments.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 2 citations