Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Influence of microplastics on the accumulation and chronic toxic effects of cadmium in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics combined with cadmium for three weeks and found that the presence of microplastics significantly increased cadmium accumulation in the liver, gut, and gills. The combined exposure caused greater oxidative damage, tissue inflammation, and disruption of protective gene activity than either pollutant alone. The study demonstrates that microplastics can enhance the toxicity of heavy metals in fish by acting as carriers that increase the body's uptake of harmful substances.

2018 Chemosphere 461 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics have additive effects on cadmium accumulation and toxicity in Rice flower carp (Procypris merus)

When a Chinese freshwater fish species was exposed to both microplastics and cadmium together, the microplastics increased cadmium buildup in the liver and gills and worsened tissue damage compared to either pollutant alone. The combined exposure caused greater oxidative stress and disrupted immune and metabolic pathways. This is important because microplastics and heavy metals often coexist in polluted waterways, and their combined effect on fish could affect the safety of freshwater fish that people eat.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparison of the combined toxicity of polystyrene microplastics and different concentrations of cadmium in zebrafish

Researchers studied the combined toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics and cadmium at different concentrations in zebrafish over a 10-day exposure period. The study found that microplastics could either amplify or reduce cadmium toxicity depending on the metal concentration, affecting survival, growth, and antioxidant responses in complex ways.

2022 Aquatic Toxicology 58 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined toxicity of microplastics and cadmium on the zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene microplastics combined with cadmium to assess their combined toxic effects on aquatic organisms. The study found that co-exposure produced greater negative impacts on survival and heart rate than either pollutant alone, with toxicity increasing in a concentration-dependent manner.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 160 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene microplastics with cadmium on the intestine of zebrafish at environmentally relevant concentrations

Researchers exposed zebrafish to PVC or polypropylene microplastics combined with cadmium, a toxic heavy metal often used in plastic manufacturing. The microplastics increased cadmium buildup in the fish intestines and worsened gut damage, including inflammation and disruption of the intestinal barrier. This is relevant to human health because people can be exposed to similar combinations of microplastics and heavy metals through contaminated seafood.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics aggravate the adverse effects of methylmercury than inorganic mercury on zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene microplastics combined with two forms of mercury and found that the microplastics significantly increased the accumulation of methylmercury in the fish. The combination of microplastics and methylmercury caused worse developmental abnormalities, delayed hatching, and greater oxidative stress than either pollutant alone. The study suggests that microplastics can act as carriers for toxic metals, amplifying their harmful effects on aquatic organisms.

2024 Environmental Pollution 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Single and Combined Effects of Microplastics and Cadmium on the Cadmium Accumulation and Biochemical and Immunity of Channa argus

Researchers investigated the single and combined effects of microplastics and cadmium on juvenile snakehead fish, finding that co-exposure caused greater tissue damage, oxidative stress, and immune disruption than either pollutant alone.

2021 Biological Trace Element Research 38 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

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

Acute co-exposure to microbeads and cadmium enhances accumulation and alters plasma biochemical markers and stress indicators in Korean rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli

Researchers found that combined acute exposure of Korean rockfish to microbeads and cadmium enhanced heavy metal accumulation in fish tissues more than cadmium alone, with microplastics facilitating metal adsorption and transport in ways that increase contaminant bioavailability.

2025 Fish Physiology and Biochemistry
Article Tier 2

Combined toxic effects of cadmium and environmental microplastics in Aphanius fasciatus (Pisces, Cyprinodontidae)

Researchers found that combined exposure to cadmium and microplastics in killifish caused oxidative stress and spinal deformities, though the two pollutants did not show clear synergistic interaction, likely because microplastics reduced cadmium bioavailability.

2023 Marine Environmental Research 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined impacts of microplastics and cadmium on the liver function, immune response, and intestinal microbiota of crucian carp (Carassius carassius)

Researchers exposed crucian carp to microplastics and cadmium, both alone and together, and found the combination caused more severe liver damage and immune disruption than either pollutant alone. Co-exposure also significantly altered the fish's gut bacteria after 21 days. This is concerning because microplastics and heavy metals frequently co-occur in polluted waterways, potentially amplifying harm to aquatic life.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Single and combined acute and subchronic toxic effects of microplastics and copper in zebrafish (Danio rerio) early life stages

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos and larvae to microplastics, copper, and their combinations to assess individual and combined toxic effects. They found that microplastics alone caused limited harm, but when combined with copper, the mixture produced altered biochemical responses and changes in gene expression. The study suggests that microplastics can modify the toxicity of heavy metals in aquatic organisms during early development.

2021 Chemosphere 96 citations
Article Tier 2

Single and combined effects of microplastics and cadmium on the cadmium accumulation, antioxidant defence and innate immunity of the discus fish (Symphysodon aequifasciatus)

Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics interact with cadmium toxicity in discus fish and found that the presence of microplastics actually reduced cadmium accumulation in the fish's body. However, the microplastics independently caused oxidative stress and altered immune responses. The study reveals that the combined effects of microplastics and heavy metals on aquatic organisms are complex and do not simply add together.

2018 Environmental Pollution 414 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

Effects of Exposure to Cadmium, Microplastics, and Their Mixture on Survival, Growth, Feeding, and Life History of Daphnia magna

Researchers examined how polyethylene microplastics altered cadmium toxicity to Daphnia magna, finding that microplastic co-exposure modified cadmium bioavailability and affected survival, growth, feeding rates, and reproductive outcomes in this ecologically important species.

2023 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on the accumulation and neurotoxicity of methylmercury in zebrafish larvae

Researchers found that microplastics can adsorb methylmercury and act as carriers, increasing its accumulation in zebrafish larvae and worsening neurotoxicity by disrupting locomotor activity and triggering oxidative stress.

2022 Marine Environmental Research 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Biochemical impacts of PET microplastics and cadmium on Danio rerio under environmental conditions

This study examined the combined biochemical effects of PET microplastics and cadmium on zebrafish under environmentally relevant exposures, finding that co-exposure altered oxidative stress biomarkers, liver enzyme activity, and immune responses in ways that differed from single-contaminant exposures.

2025
Article Tier 2

Integrated analysis of zebrafish gut microbiota and liver transcriptome responses to polystyrene microplastics and cadmium

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics and cadmium, both individually and combined, and found that combined exposure caused more severe disruption to gut bacteria and liver gene expression than either pollutant alone. The study revealed that microplastics decreased beneficial gut bacteria while increasing pathogenic species, and the combined treatment suppressed liver xenobiotic metabolism and antioxidant pathways.

2026 Aquaculture Reports
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of microplastics and chemical contaminants on the organ toxicity of zebrafish ( Danio rerio )

Researchers studied the combined effects of microplastics and chemical contaminants like PCBs and methylmercury on zebrafish organs over three weeks of exposure. They found that microplastics carrying adsorbed contaminants produced the most significant effects, particularly on the liver, compared to either microplastics or contaminants alone. The results indicate that microplastics may act as carriers that increase the delivery of harmful chemicals to organisms' tissues.

2018 Environmental Research 406 citations