Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Subchronic toxicity of dietary sulfamethazine and nanoplastics in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma): Insights from the gut microbiota and intestinal oxidative status

Researchers found that dietary co-exposure to the antibiotic sulfamethazine and polystyrene nanoplastics in marine medaka caused significant disruption of gut microbiota composition and increased intestinal oxidative stress, with combined effects exceeding individual exposures.

2021 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Gut microbiota related response of Oryzias melastigma to combined exposure of polystyrene microplastics and tetracycline

Researchers exposed estuarine fish to polystyrene microplastics and the antibiotic tetracycline, both alone and in combination, for four weeks. The combined exposure caused more severe disruption to gut bacteria and liver tissue than either pollutant alone, with microplastics appearing to worsen the effects of tetracycline. The study suggests that the co-occurrence of microplastics and antibiotics in coastal waters may pose greater ecological risks than either contaminant by itself.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Incomplete recovery of gut microbiota in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) during the depuration phase, after exposure to sulfamethazine/nanoplastics

Researchers found that gut microbiota in marine medaka did not fully recover after 21 days of depuration following exposure to sulfamethazine and polystyrene nanoplastics, indicating that antibiotic and nanoplastic co-exposure can cause lasting disruption to fish gut microbial communities.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of micro-/nano-plastics and oxytetracycline on the intestinal histopathology and microbiome in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers studied the combined effects of micro- and nano-sized plastics with the antibiotic oxytetracycline on zebrafish intestines over 30 days. Nano-sized plastics caused more intestinal damage than micro-sized ones, and combined exposures altered gut bacterial communities and increased antibiotic resistance genes. The findings suggest that the co-occurrence of plastic particles and antibiotics in aquatic environments may have compounding negative effects on fish gut health.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 90 citations
Article Tier 2

Parental exposure to sulfamethazine and nanoplastics alters the gut microbial communities in the offspring of marine madaka (Oryzias melastigma)

Researchers found that parental exposure to the antibiotic sulfamethazine and polystyrene nanoplastics altered gut microbial communities in offspring of marine medaka, demonstrating intergenerational effects of combined contaminant exposure on fish health.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Surface functional groups on nanoplastics delay the recovery of gut microbiota after combined exposure to sulfamethazine in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma)

Researchers found that surface-modified nanoplastics (with carboxyl or amino groups) delayed the recovery of gut microbiota in marine medaka fish after combined exposure with the antibiotic sulfamethazine, compared to plain polystyrene nanoplastics. The modified nanoplastics were expelled more slowly from the fish and released more of the adsorbed antibiotic during digestion. The study suggests that real-world nanoplastics, which typically carry surface functional groups from environmental weathering, may pose greater risks to gut health than pristine particles.

2023 Aquatic Toxicology 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Interactive effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonates on the histomorphology, oxidative stress and gut microbiota in Hainan Medaka (Oryzias curvinotus)

Researchers exposed a freshwater fish species to nanoplastics and a fluorinated chemical pollutant, both alone and in combination, and found that the mixture caused more severe tissue damage than either substance alone. The combined exposure harmed gills, liver, and intestines while disrupting antioxidant systems and gut bacteria. The study suggests nanoplastics can worsen the effects of industrial chemicals on aquatic life.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics and phenanthrene on gut microbiome and metabolome alterations in the marine medaka Oryzias melastigma

Researchers exposed marine medaka fish to microplastics combined with phenanthrene, a common organic pollutant, and found that the combination disrupted gut bacteria and metabolism more than either substance alone. Specific gut bacterial communities shifted in response to the combined exposure, leading to changes in important metabolic processes. This study underscores that microplastics in the ocean don't act alone; they interact with other pollutants to amplify harm to aquatic organisms and potentially to the humans who consume seafood.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Microbiome dysbiosis and decreased survival in coral larvae exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of nanoplastics and sulfamethoxazole

Researchers exposed coral larvae to nanoplastics and the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole at environmentally relevant concentrations and found significantly reduced survival, tissue damage, and disrupted bacterial symbiont communities. The study suggests that co-exposure to these pollutants causes more severe harm than either alone, potentially threatening coral reef recovery by impairing larval health and microbial nutrient cycling.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Multi-Omics Platforms Reveal Synergistic Intestinal Toxicity in Tilapia from Acute Co-Exposure to Polystyrene Microplastics, Sulfamethoxazole, and BDE153

Researchers exposed tilapia to polystyrene microplastics combined with an antibiotic and a flame retardant to study their combined effects on gut health. Using multiple analytical methods, they found that the pollutant mixtures caused significant intestinal damage, including reduced immune activity, disrupted lipid metabolism, and decreased goblet cell density. The study suggests that microplastics and co-occurring contaminants can work together to amplify harmful effects on fish digestive systems.

2025 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and bisphenol A induces hepato- and intestinal-toxicity and disturbs gut microbiota in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

Researchers exposed channel catfish to nanoplastics and bisphenol A, both alone and combined, and found the combination caused more severe liver and intestinal damage than either substance alone. The co-exposure also disrupted gut bacteria in ways that amplified toxicity. Since nanoplastics and BPA commonly co-exist in polluted water, their combined effects on aquatic organisms may be worse than what single-pollutant studies suggest.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 59 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic impacts of polystyrene nanoplastics and PCB77 in blunt snout bream: Evidence from tissue morphology, oxidative stress and intestinal microbiome

Researchers studied the combined toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and a persistent organic pollutant (PCB77) in freshwater fish. They found that co-exposure caused worse tissue damage, higher oxidative stress, and greater disruption to gut bacteria than either contaminant alone. The study highlights that microplastics can worsen the harmful effects of other environmental pollutants when organisms are exposed to both simultaneously.

2025 Geoscience Frontiers 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics exacerbated the ecotoxicological and potential carcinogenic effects of tetracycline in juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics significantly worsened the toxic effects of the antibiotic tetracycline in juvenile grass carp. Combined exposure increased oxidative damage, upregulated genes associated with tissue remodeling and inflammation in the liver and intestine, and caused visible tissue lesions in the intestine and gills.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 67 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined toxic effects of nanoplastics and norfloxacin on antioxidant and immune genes in mussels

Researchers studied the combined toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and the antibiotic norfloxacin on mussels, focusing on genes related to antioxidant defense and immune function. They found that the mixture of both contaminants produced more severe disruptions to gene expression than either substance alone, indicating a synergistic toxic effect. The study suggests that the co-occurrence of nanoplastics and antibiotics in marine environments may pose compounding risks to shellfish health.

2023 Marine Environmental Research 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined toxic effects of nanoplastics and norfloxacin on mussel: Leveraging biochemical parameters and gut microbiota

Researchers exposed mussels to nanoplastics and the antibiotic norfloxacin, both alone and together, and found that the combination caused greater biochemical stress than either pollutant alone. Nanoplastics appeared to carry the antibiotic into mussel tissues, increasing its bioavailability and impact on gut microbiota. The findings suggest that nanoplastics can amplify the toxicity of other contaminants in marine organisms.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 30 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

Apoptosis, MAPK signaling pathway affected in tilapia liver following nano-microplastics and sulfamethoxazole acute co-exposure

Researchers exposed juvenile tilapia to nano-microplastics combined with the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole and found significant liver damage, including disrupted enzyme activity and inflammatory responses. The combination triggered cell death pathways and stress signaling in liver tissue more severely than either contaminant alone. The study suggests that microplastics may amplify the harmful effects of pharmaceutical pollutants in aquatic environments.

2024 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part D Genomics and Proteomics 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Metagenomic analysis explores the interaction of aged microplastics and roxithromycin on gut microbiota and antibiotic resistance genes of Carassius auratus

Researchers examined how aged polystyrene microplastics interact with the antibiotic roxithromycin in the gut of goldfish using metagenomic analysis. They found that aging enhanced the microplastics' ability to carry and release the antibiotic, leading to greater intestinal inflammation and disruption of gut microbial communities. The combined exposure also selectively enriched antibiotic resistance genes, suggesting that aged microplastics may amplify the ecological risks of antibiotic pollution.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 93 citations
Article Tier 2

The co-presence of polystyrene nanoplastics and ofloxacin demonstrates combined effects on the structure, assembly, and metabolic activities of marine microbial community

Researchers examined the combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and the antibiotic ofloxacin on marine microbial communities. They found that the two pollutants together had a greater impact on bacterial community structure and metabolic activity than either one alone. The study suggests that nanoplastics and antibiotics co-occurring in the ocean may work together to disrupt the microorganisms that support marine ecosystem health.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of nanoplastics and microcystin-LR coexposure on the liver-gut axis of Hypophthalmichthys molitrix

Scientists exposed silver carp to both polystyrene nanoplastics and microcystin-LR (a toxin from harmful algae) and found the combination caused more severe gut and liver damage than either pollutant alone. The nanoplastics shortened intestinal structures, changed gut bacteria communities, and disrupted liver metabolism. This is concerning because both contaminants are commonly found together in aquaculture waters, and the fish affected are widely consumed by people.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics and tetracycline induced intestinal damage, intestinal microbiota dysbiosis, and antibiotic resistome: metagenomic analysis in young mice

Young mice exposed to both polystyrene microplastics and the antibiotic tetracycline suffered worse intestinal damage than those exposed to either pollutant alone. The combination severely disrupted the gut barrier, altered gut bacteria, and increased antibiotic resistance genes in the intestines. This is especially concerning for children, whose developing gut systems may be more vulnerable to the combined effects of microplastics and antibiotics commonly found in the environment.

2025 Environment International 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics and cypermethrin exposure interfered the complexity of antibiotic resistance genes and induced metabolic dysfunction in the gut of adult zebrafish

Zebrafish exposed to a combination of polystyrene microplastics and the pesticide cypermethrin showed more severe gut damage than from either pollutant alone, including loss of beneficial gut bacteria, growth of harmful microbes, and increased antibiotic resistance genes. This suggests that microplastics and pesticides together may disrupt gut health more than expected, which is relevant since humans encounter both pollutants through food and water.

2025 Environmental Pollution 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and PCB77 induced oxidative stress, histopathological damage and intestinal microbiota disruption in white hard clam Meretrix lyrata

Researchers exposed white hard clams to nanoplastics and a type of industrial pollutant called PCB77, both individually and together, and found that the combination caused more severe damage than either pollutant alone. The clams showed increased oxidative stress, tissue damage in their gills and digestive glands, and significant disruption of their gut bacteria. The findings suggest that nanoplastics may worsen the toxic effects of other environmental contaminants in shellfish.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics and Enrofloxacin on the Life Histories and Gut Microbiota of Daphnia magna

Researchers exposed Daphnia magna to polystyrene nanoplastics and the antibiotic enrofloxacin alone and in combination, measuring life history traits and gut microbiota responses. Both stressors individually reduced survival and reproduction, and combined exposure altered the taxonomic composition and metabolic function of gut microbiota more than either contaminant alone.

2022 Water 19 citations