Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of microplastic (polyethylene) exposure: Stress, immune responses and neurotoxicity in crucian carp, Carassius carassius

Researchers exposed crucian carp to polyethylene microplastics at various concentrations for two weeks and measured stress, immune, and neurotoxic responses. The study found that higher microplastic concentrations caused significant increases in stress hormones and HSP70, while suppressing immune function and inhibiting acetylcholinesterase activity, indicating concentration-dependent neurotoxicity and immune suppression.

2026 Fish & Shellfish Immunology
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of sub-acute microplastic (polyamide) exposure on the accumulation, hematological, and antioxidant responses in crucian carp, Carassius carassius

Researchers exposed crucian carp to various concentrations of polyamide microplastics for two weeks and found that the particles accumulated in the fish tissues in a dose-dependent manner. Higher concentrations caused significant changes in blood parameters including reduced red blood cell counts and altered antioxidant enzyme activity, indicating both physical stress and oxidative damage. The study identifies specific blood and enzyme markers that could serve as early warning indicators of microplastic exposure in freshwater fish.

2023 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of microplastic (polyethylene) exposure: Bioaccumulation, hematological parameters and antioxidant responses in crucian carp, Carassius carassius

Researchers exposed crucian carp to polyethylene microplastics at various concentrations and found that the particles accumulated in tissues including gills, gut, and liver. The microplastics altered blood cell counts and disrupted the fish's antioxidant defense system in a dose-dependent manner. The study suggests that even common polyethylene microplastics can cause measurable biological harm in freshwater fish.

2023 Chemosphere 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects on bioaccumulation, hematological parameters, oxidative stress, immune responses and neurotoxicity in fish exposed to microplastics: A review

This review summarizes how microplastics affect fish health, covering toxic effects on blood, immune system, nervous system, and the buildup of plastics in fish tissues. Microplastics that accumulate in fish can trigger oxidative damage, weaken immune responses, and impair brain-related enzyme activity. Since fish are a major protein source for humans, understanding how microplastics harm fish health is directly relevant to the safety of our food supply.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 452 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

Subacute toxic effects of polyvinyl chloride microplastics (PVC-MPs) in juvenile common carp, Cyprinus carpio (Pisces: Cyprinidae)

Juvenile common carp exposed to polyvinyl chloride microplastics showed dose-dependent toxic effects including tissue damage, oxidative stress, and altered biochemical markers over a subacute exposure period. The results indicate that PVC microplastics are harmful to freshwater fish at ecologically relevant concentrations.

2022 SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Microplastics on Gene Expression, Muscular Performance, and Immunological Responses in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Seasonal and Habitat Variations

Researchers found microplastics in both the gut and muscle tissue of Nile tilapia fish from two sites along the Nile River in Egypt, with contamination levels varying by season and location. The microplastics activated genes linked to muscle wasting, cell death, and inflammation while suppressing growth-related genes, with the worst effects seen during summer months. Since tilapia is a widely consumed fish, these findings raise concerns about microplastic-related damage being passed to humans through the food supply.

2025 Marine Biotechnology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Increased ingestion and toxicity of polyamide microplastics in Nile tilapia with increase of salinity

Researchers found that exposing Nile tilapia fish to polyamide microplastics in increasingly salty water caused greater microplastic accumulation, more blood cell abnormalities, and worse damage to gills and intestines. Higher salinity made the fish ingest more microplastics and suffer more severe toxic effects. Since climate change is increasing saltwater intrusion into freshwater habitats, this suggests that microplastic toxicity to aquatic life and the fish humans eat could worsen over time.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploration of polyacrylamide microplastics and evaluation of their toxicity on multiple parameters of Oreochromis niloticus

Researchers evaluated the toxicity of polyacrylamide microplastics on Nile tilapia fish at different concentrations and found significant harmful effects across multiple biological systems. The microplastics disrupted antioxidant enzymes, reduced blood cell counts, and caused histological damage to gills, liver, and intestine. The study indicates that polyacrylamide microplastics, increasingly present in aquatic environments, are toxic agents with broad physiological impacts on freshwater fish.

2022 Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences 50 citations
Article Tier 2

Neurotoxic effects of different sizes of plastics (nano, micro, and macro) on juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Researchers assessed the neurotoxic effects of polyethylene plastics at nano, micro, and macro sizes on juvenile common carp brains. The study found that all plastic sizes reduced brain enzyme activity by 30-40%, with smaller particles causing more pronounced effects, and histological examination revealed structural changes in brain tissue, suggesting that size plays a significant role in plastic neurotoxicity.

2022 Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanopolystyrene particles at environmentally relevant concentrations causes behavioral and biochemical changes in juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Researchers exposed juvenile grass carp to environmentally relevant concentrations of polystyrene nanoplastics and found impaired anti-predator behavior, altered shoal dynamics, and increased acetylcholinesterase activity alongside oxidative stress, with nanoplastics detected in brain tissue, suggesting neurological effects even at trace exposure levels.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 84 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of microplastics (polyethylene) exposure on acetylcholinesterase, stress indicators and immunity in Korean Bullhead, Pseudobagrus fulvidraco

Researchers exposed Korean bullhead fish to polyethylene microplastics at various concentrations for 96 hours and measured effects on nerve function, stress, and immunity. At lower concentrations no significant changes were observed, but at higher levels the fish showed inhibited nerve enzyme activity, elevated stress hormones, and suppressed immune responses. The study highlights that while moderate microplastic exposure may have limited acute effects, severe contamination can meaningfully impair fish health.

2025 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in aquaculture - Potential impacts on inflammatory processes in Nile tilapia

Researchers fed Nile tilapia a diet containing a mixture of four common microplastics and found that the particles triggered inflammatory responses in both adult and juvenile fish. The microplastics activated immune pathways and caused tissue changes in the gut and other organs, with juveniles being more sensitive. Since tilapia is one of the most widely farmed fish in the world, these findings raise concerns about the safety of farm-raised fish exposed to microplastic-contaminated water.

2024 Heliyon 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Sub-chronic exposure of Oreochromis niloticus to environmentally relevant concentrations of smaller microplastics: Accumulation and toxico-physiological responses

Researchers exposed Nile tilapia to low, environmentally relevant concentrations of polystyrene microplastics for 14 days and found the particles accumulated in multiple organs including the brain, liver, and reproductive tissues. The fish showed changes in blood chemistry, increased stress hormones, and signs of liver and kidney dysfunction. These results suggest that even realistic levels of microplastic pollution can cause measurable physiological harm in fish.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics induce toxic effects in fish: Bioaccumulation, hematological parameters and antioxidant responses

Researchers exposed juvenile fish to polyamide microplastics and found the particles accumulated primarily in the intestine, gills, and liver, causing reduced blood oxygen-carrying capacity, liver stress, and disrupted antioxidant defenses. These findings matter because fish are an important food source for humans, and microplastic accumulation in fish tissues could transfer these contaminants to people through their diet.

2025 Chemosphere 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecotoxicological effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on common carp: Insights into blood parameters, DNA damage, and gene expression

Exposing common carp to polystyrene nanoplastics caused significant DNA damage in blood and brain cells, along with changes in genes related to immune function and stress response. Higher concentrations led to more severe effects, and the nanoplastics also disrupted liver antioxidant defenses. Since carp are widely consumed fish, these findings raise questions about the safety of fish from nanoplastic-contaminated waters for human consumption.

2024 Journal of Applied Toxicology 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of Polystyrene Microplastic Exposure on Individual, Tissue, and Gene Expression in Juvenile Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus)

Juvenile crucian carp were exposed to polystyrene microplastics at different concentrations, and researchers found that the particles accumulated mainly in the intestines and gills. The study suggests that microplastic exposure caused tissue damage to multiple organs and altered gene expression, with higher concentrations generally leading to more severe effects.

2024 Fishes 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Concurrent impacts of polystyrene nanoplastic exposure and Aeromonas hydrophila infection on oxidative stress, immune response and intestinal microbiota of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Researchers studied the combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and a bacterial infection on grass carp, a common freshwater fish. They found that nanoplastic exposure worsened the impact of the infection by increasing oxidative stress, suppressing immune responses, and disrupting the gut microbiome. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution in waterways could make fish more vulnerable to disease by weakening their natural defenses.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 28 citations
Article Tier 2

A dosage-effect assessment of acute toxicology tests of microplastic exposure in filter-feeding fish

Researchers assessed the dose-dependent effects of polystyrene microplastics on silver carp, a filter-feeding fish, during a 48-hour exposure and recovery period. Low concentrations induced oxidative stress and gene upregulation in the intestine, with the fish able to recover after exposure ended. However, high concentrations caused significant gill and intestinal damage that persisted even after the microplastics were removed.

2021 Fish & Shellfish Immunology 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigation of the impact caused by different sizes of polyethylene plastics (nano, micro, and macro) in common carp juveniles, Cyprinus carpio L., using multi-biomarkers.

Common carp juveniles exposed to polyethylene plastics of three different sizes (nano, micro, and macro) all showed tissue damage, oxidative stress, and immune disruption, with nanoparticles causing the most severe effects. The size-dependent toxicity pattern suggests that as larger environmental plastics break down into smaller particles, their potential to harm fish — and ultimately people who eat them — may increase.

2022 The Science of the total environment
Article Tier 2

Biochemical, Genotoxic and Histological Implications of Polypropylene Microplastics on Freshwater Fish Oreochromis mossambicus: An Aquatic Eco-Toxicological Assessment

Researchers fed polypropylene microplastics to freshwater tilapia and found they caused oxidative stress, DNA damage, and liver tissue deterioration, with more severe effects after 14 days compared to acute 96-hour exposure. The microplastics disrupted antioxidant enzyme systems and neurotransmitter activity in the fish. The study demonstrates that prolonged microplastic ingestion poses a significant ecological threat to freshwater fish species.

2023 Toxics 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure of Cyprinus carpio var. larvae to PVC microplastics reveals significant immunological alterations and irreversible histological organ damage

Researchers conducted a 60-day feeding experiment exposing carp larvae to PVC microplastics at varying concentrations and found significant immune system disruption and organ damage. The microplastics caused liver vacuolation, intestinal villi damage, spleen inflammation, and kidney degeneration, along with elevated inflammatory markers and reactive oxygen species. The findings indicate that chronic dietary exposure to PVC microplastics can cause serious and potentially irreversible harm to freshwater fish immune function.

2022 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 55 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment the effect of exposure to microplastics in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) early juvenile: I. blood biomarkers

Researchers exposed juvenile Nile tilapia to different concentrations of microplastics for 15 days followed by a 15-day recovery period and measured blood biomarkers. They found dose-dependent changes in biochemical and hematological parameters, including elevated liver enzymes, altered blood cell counts, and increased glucose levels. Many of these effects persisted even after the recovery period, suggesting that microplastic exposure can cause lasting physiological stress in young freshwater fish.

2019 Chemosphere 258 citations
Article Tier 2

Neurotoxic effects of different sizes of plastics (Nano, Micro, and Macro) on juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Researchers found that polyethylene plastic particles of nano, micro, and macro sizes all reduced acetylcholinesterase, monoamine oxidase, and nitric oxide levels by 30-40% in the brains of juvenile common carp after 15-day exposures, with nanoplastics causing the greatest damage including brain tissue necrosis, edema, and retinal degeneration.

2022 Research Square (Research Square) 2 citations