Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Eco-toxicity assessment of polypropylene microplastics in juvenile zebrafish (Danio rerio)

This study exposed young zebrafish to polypropylene microplastics for 28 days and found that the particles built up in their digestive tracts, causing oxidative stress, liver damage, and blood cell death. The damage increased with higher microplastic concentrations, and brain function was also affected through changes in a key neurotransmitter enzyme. These findings suggest that even common plastics like polypropylene can cause significant organ damage when ingested over time.

2024 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nano/microplastics induce microbiota dysbiosis, oxidative damage, and innate immune disruption in zebrafish

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene particles of two different sizes and found that both nano- and micro-sized plastics disrupted gut bacteria, caused oxidative damage, and altered immune responses. The severity of effects depended on particle size and concentration, with smaller particles and higher doses causing more harm. The study suggests that plastic particles in waterways may pose a broader threat to fish health than previously understood, affecting digestion, stress defenses, and immunity simultaneously.

2022 Microbial Pathogenesis 86 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyethylene microplastic exposure and concurrent effect with Aeromonas hydrophila infection on zebrafish

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastic exposure in zebrafish caused oxidative stress, altered antioxidant enzyme activity, and induced intestinal damage, with concurrent Aeromonas hydrophila infection amplifying these toxic effects and increasing mortality rates.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics induce intestinal inflammation, oxidative stress, and disorders of metabolome and microbiome in zebrafish

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics for 21 days and found significant intestinal inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of both the gut microbiome and metabolic processes. The microplastics altered the balance of beneficial and harmful gut bacteria and changed the levels of key metabolites involved in energy and amino acid metabolism. The study provides detailed evidence that microplastic ingestion can cause widespread disruption to gut health in aquatic organisms.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 898 citations
Article Tier 2

Study of the effects of nanoplastics ingestion in a freshwater fish ( Danio rerio )

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene nanoplastics and found evidence of intestinal damage, oxidative stress, and behavioral changes. The study adds to growing evidence that nanoplastics in freshwater environments can harm fish health, with potential implications for the health of ecosystems and fish-eating humans.

2021 Annals of Medicine 4 citations
Article Tier 2

A current perspective on the relevance of nano and microplastics in the neurodevelopmental disorders: further relevance for metabolic, gastrointestinal, oxidative stress-related and zebrafish studies

This review examines evidence that micro- and nanoplastics may affect brain development and neurological function, drawing on studies in zebrafish and other animal models. The authors discuss potential mechanisms including oxidative stress and endocrine disruption, and call for more research on the neurodevelopmental risks of plastic particle exposure.

2020 Bulletin of Integrative Psychiatry 2 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

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

Nanoplastic Exposure Mediates Neurodevelopmental Toxicity by Activating the Oxidative Stress Response in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Exposure to 20-nanometer plastic particles caused developmental problems in zebrafish embryos, including shorter body length, heart defects, and lower survival rates. The nanoplastics specifically damaged the development of motor neurons and triggered oxidative stress, a harmful chemical imbalance in cells. These results suggest that very small plastic particles could interfere with early brain and nerve development.

2024 ACS Omega 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics Cause Neurobehavioral Impairments, Reproductive and Oxidative Damages, and Biomarker Responses in Zebrafish: Throwing up Alarms of Wide Spread Health Risk of Exposure

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that the particles accumulated in the brain, liver, intestine, and gonads, causing significant behavioral and physiological changes. The fish showed disrupted energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and altered locomotion, aggression, and predator avoidance behaviors. The findings raise concerns about the widespread health risks of nanoplastic exposure, as these particles are small enough to cross biological membranes.

2020 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 410 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined toxicity of polyethylene micro/nanoplastics and PFOA in zebrafish (Danio rerio): Impacts on antioxidant, neurotransmission, and gut microbiota

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polyethylene micro/nanoplastics and the industrial pollutant PFOA individually and in combination, assessing antioxidant capacity, neurotransmission, and gut microbiome composition. Combined exposure caused greater oxidative stress, more severe neurotransmitter disruption, and larger gut microbiome shifts than either contaminant alone, highlighting synergistic risks of co-occurring plastic and PFAS pollution.

2025 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology
Article Tier 2

Microplastic particles cause intestinal damage and other adverse effects in zebrafish Danio rerio and nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Researchers exposed zebrafish and nematodes to five common types of microplastics and found that several types caused intestinal damage, including cracking of the gut lining. In nematodes, microplastics significantly reduced survival, body length, and reproduction, with 1-micrometer particles causing the most severe effects. The findings suggest that intestinal damage and oxidative stress are primary mechanisms through which microplastics harm aquatic organisms.

2017 The Science of The Total Environment 1334 citations
Article Tier 2

Current Aspects on the Plastic Nano- and Microparticles Toxicity in Zebrafish—Focus on the Correlation between Oxidative Stress Responses and Neurodevelopment

This review examines how nano- and micro-sized plastic particles cause toxic effects in zebrafish, focusing on the link between oxidative stress and neurodevelopmental damage. Researchers found that plastic particle exposure disrupts the balance of reactive oxygen species in cells, which can impair brain development and nervous system function. The study suggests these oxidative stress responses may serve as early warning signals of plastic particle toxicity in aquatic organisms.

2023 Animals 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Do Microplastics Have Neurological Implications in Relation to Schizophrenia Zebrafish Models? A Brain Immunohistochemistry, Neurotoxicity Assessment, and Oxidative Stress Analysis

Zebrafish exposed to microplastics showed increased brain damage and oxidative stress, especially when combined with chemicals that mimic schizophrenia-related conditions. The study suggests microplastics may worsen neurological problems by interacting with other brain-altering substances, highlighting potential concerns about how plastic pollution could contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders.

2024 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts of Environmental Concentrations of Nanoplastics on Zebrafish Neurobehavior and Reproductive Toxicity

Researchers exposed zebrafish to environmentally realistic levels of polystyrene nanoplastics and found they caused both brain and reproductive damage. The nanoplastics disrupted neurotransmitter signaling and impaired the hormonal pathway connecting the brain to reproductive organs, with different effects in males and females. These findings suggest that even low-level nanoplastic exposure could affect both brain function and fertility in aquatic life that humans may consume.

2024 Toxics 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Genotoxic and Oxidative Damage of Environmental Pollutant Microplastics on Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics at different concentrations for up to 21 days to measure oxidative stress and DNA damage. The study found that both types of microplastics disrupted the antioxidant system and caused measurable DNA damage, with effects depending on dosage and exposure time. These results suggest that microplastics in waterways could pose genetic and cellular risks to aquatic life.

2025 Journal of Applied Toxicology 2 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

Toxicological Research on Nano and Microplastics in Environmental Pollution: Current Advances and Future Directions

This review summarizes existing research on how nano- and microplastics from our massive global plastic production enter aquatic environments, absorb harmful chemicals, and move through food chains into living organisms. Studies show these particles can cause brain damage, disrupt metabolism, trigger inflammation, and produce harmful oxidative stress in aquatic species, with microplastics even detected in commercial fish that people eat.

2024 Aquatic Toxicology 43 citations
Article Tier 2

A mechanistic understanding of the effects of polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to nanoplastics made from PET, the plastic commonly used in water bottles and food packaging. The nanoplastics accumulated in the liver, intestine, and kidneys, causing oxidative stress, damaging cell energy systems, and disrupting metabolism. This is the first comprehensive study of PET nanoplastic toxicity mechanisms, and it is particularly relevant because PET is one of the most common plastics that humans encounter daily.

2023 Scientific Reports 68 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics induce neurotoxicity in zebrafish via oxidative stress and neurotransmitter disruption

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics and found that both particle sizes caused neurodevelopmental toxicity, with nanoplastics being more potent. The plastic particles induced oxidative stress in the brain and disrupted neurotransmitter levels critical for normal neural development. The study suggests that microplastic and nanoplastic contamination in aquatic environments may pose significant risks to the neurological development of fish.

2025 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic nanoparticles cause mild inflammation, disrupt metabolic pathways, change the gut microbiota and affect reproduction in zebrafish: A full generation multi-omics study.

Exposure of zebrafish to polystyrene nanoparticles throughout their entire first generation caused mild inflammation, disrupted metabolic pathways, altered gut microbiota, and impaired reproduction — even at environmentally relevant concentrations. This comprehensive multigenerational study demonstrates that nanoplastic exposure can have lasting biological effects across multiple body systems in fish.

2022 Journal of hazardous materials
Article Tier 2

From particle size to brain function: a zebrafish-based review of micro/nanoplastic-induced neurobehavioral toxicity and mechanistic pathways

This review uses zebrafish as a model to examine how micro- and nanoplastics cause neurobehavioral toxicity, linking particle size to brain function disruption. Researchers summarize evidence that these plastic particles impair fish behavior and cause molecular-level damage in the nervous system. The findings highlight the growing concern that micro- and nanoplastics are emerging neurotoxicants in aquatic environments.

2025 Environmental Science Nano 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of MP Polyethylene Microparticles on Microbiome and Inflammatory Response of Larval Zebrafish

Zebrafish larvae exposed to polyethylene microplastics for up to 10 days showed no broad metabolic disturbances or inflammatory changes, but oxidative stress markers increased at 15 days and the gut microbiome was disrupted, with higher levels of bacteria linked to intestinal disease. The findings suggest microplastics alter the microbial environment of fish guts without triggering obvious inflammation.

2020 Toxics 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics Induce More Serious Microbiota Dysbiosis and Inflammation in the Gut of Adult Zebrafish than Microplastics

Researchers compared the effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on the gut health of adult zebrafish and found that nanoplastics caused significantly more severe disruption to gut microbial communities and inflammation. Even at low concentrations, nanoplastics altered the abundance of beneficial and harmful gut bacteria more dramatically than larger microplastic particles. The study suggests that smaller plastic particles may pose greater risks to digestive health due to their ability to penetrate tissues more easily.

2021 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 132 citations