Papers

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Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of co-exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and arsenic in zebrafish (Danio rerio): Oxidative stress, physiological and biochemical responses

In a zebrafish study, polystyrene nanoplastics made arsenic more toxic by helping the poison build up in the liver, gills, and intestines. The nanoplastics increased cell damage and oxidative stress beyond what arsenic alone would cause. This shows that nanoplastics can act as carriers for other toxic substances in water, potentially making environmental pollutants more dangerous to aquatic life and the food chain.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Integration of physiology, microbiota and metabolomics reveals toxic response of zebrafish gut to co-exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and arsenic

Researchers exposed zebrafish to arsenic combined with polystyrene nanoplastics and found that the nanoplastics significantly increased arsenic accumulation in the gut, by up to 77% at the higher dose. The combined exposure caused more oxidative damage and greater disruption to gut bacteria and metabolism than arsenic alone. This study shows that nanoplastics can make other environmental pollutants more dangerous by helping them accumulate in the digestive system.

2024 Aquatic Toxicology 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-exposure of nanoplastics and arsenic causes neurotoxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) through disrupting homeostasis of microbiota–intestine–brain axis

Researchers found that combining nanoplastics with arsenic, two pollutants commonly found together in the environment, caused more severe brain damage in zebrafish than either pollutant alone. The co-exposure reduced serotonin production in the gut, which then lowered serotonin levels in the brain, leading to anxiety and impaired learning. This study reveals a gut-brain pathway through which nanoplastics and co-occurring pollutants could affect mental health and cognition.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Adverse effects of polystyrene nanoplastic and its binary mixtures with nonylphenol on zebrafish nervous system: From oxidative stress to impaired neurotransmitter system

Researchers investigated the individual and combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and the industrial chemical nonylphenol on the zebrafish nervous system over 45 days. Both substances induced oxidative stress and disrupted neurotransmitter systems, with combined exposure generally producing more severe effects on glutamate metabolism and brain tissue damage. The study suggests that the interaction between nanoplastics and co-occurring environmental pollutants can amplify neurotoxic effects in fish.

2022 Environmental Pollution 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhanced uptake of BPA in the presence of nanoplastics can lead to neurotoxic effects in adult zebrafish

Researchers found that nanoplastics amplify bisphenol A (BPA) accumulation in zebrafish tissues by 2- to 2.6-fold and that co-exposure enhances neurotoxic effects — including myelin disruption and dopaminergic system changes — beyond what either contaminant causes alone.

2017 The Science of The Total Environment 446 citations
Article Tier 2

The combined toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics and different forms of arsenic on the zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio)

Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics interact with different forms of arsenic and their combined effects on zebrafish embryos. The microplastics absorbed arsenic from the water and altered how the toxic metal accumulated in zebrafish tissues, changing its toxicity profile. The findings suggest that microplastics in the environment can modify how other pollutants affect living organisms, potentially making combined exposures more harmful than expected.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Functionalized Nanoplastics (NPs) Increase the Toxicity of Metals in Fish Cell Lines

Researchers tested whether functionalized nanoplastics increase the toxicity of metals like arsenic and methylmercury in fish cell lines. The study found that amino-functionalized polystyrene nanoparticles were the most cytotoxic on their own and significantly enhanced the toxic effects of metals when combined, suggesting that nanoplastics can act as carriers that amplify the harm of co-occurring pollutants.

2021 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics aggravated TDCIPP-induced transgenerational developmental neurotoxicity in zebrafish depending on the involvement of the dopamine signaling pathway

Zebrafish exposed to nanoplastics combined with TDCIPP (a common flame retardant chemical) from embryo to adulthood showed more severe brain development problems than exposure to either pollutant alone. The nanoplastics increased the absorption of the flame retardant and together they disrupted the dopamine signaling pathway in the brain, with toxic effects carrying over to the next generation. This highlights how nanoplastics can amplify the neurotoxicity of other environmental chemicals.

2024 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics enhance the toxicological effects of DDE in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics enhanced the toxicity of the pesticide metabolite DDE in zebrafish larvae, with co-exposure causing greater developmental abnormalities and oxidative stress than either pollutant alone.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics mediated the toxicity of silver nanoparticles in zebrafish embryos

Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics interact with silver nanoparticles and affect zebrafish embryo development. They found that nanoplastics can act as carriers for silver nanoparticles in water, and the combination altered patterns of oxidative stress, immune response, and metabolic function compared to either pollutant alone. The study highlights how nanoplastics may change the way other environmental contaminants affect aquatic organisms.

2023 Frontiers in Marine Science 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics aggravate the toxicity of arsenic to AGS cells by disrupting ABC transporter and cytoskeleton

Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics of various sizes affect the toxicity of arsenic in human gastric cells. They found that while nanoplastics alone at noncytotoxic concentrations did not harm cells, they significantly enhanced arsenic accumulation and toxicity by disrupting cell membrane integrity, damaging the cytoskeleton, and inhibiting ABC transporter activity. The study highlights that nanoplastics can aggravate the harmful effects of co-occurring environmental contaminants even at concentrations previously considered safe.

2021 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 61 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicological assessment of nanoparticles and microplastics

This review examines the toxicological effects of nanoparticles and microplastics on aquatic organisms, summarizing mechanisms of harm including oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, DNA damage, tissue injury, and neurological disruption in fish. It highlights that secondary nanoplastics formed from macro- and microplastic degradation are more heterogeneous than primary particles, and that combined exposure with chemical pollutants amplifies toxicity, including the capacity to cross the blood-brain barrier in fish.

2022 Biomedical Letters 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined neurotoxicity of aged microplastics and thiamethoxam in the early developmental stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

This study found that aged (weathered) microplastics combined with the insecticide thiamethoxam caused worse neurological damage to zebrafish larvae than either pollutant alone. The combined exposure reduced heart rate and movement, disrupted antioxidant defenses, and altered neurotransmitter levels in ways that were synergistic rather than simply additive. This is relevant to human health because both microplastics and pesticides are common in the environment, and their combined effects may pose greater risks than either one individually.

2024 Environmental Pollution 14 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

Nanoplastics Decrease the Toxicity of a Complex PAH Mixture but Impair Mitochondrial Energy Production in Developing Zebrafish

Researchers studied the combined toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and a real-world mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on developing zebrafish. While the nanoplastics alone did not cause visible developmental defects, they impaired mitochondrial energy production and unexpectedly reduced the toxicity of the PAH mixture. The findings suggest that nanoplastics can interact with co-occurring pollutants in complex ways, sometimes moderating their effects while causing their own subtle cellular damage.

2019 Environmental Science & Technology 291 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined exposure to nanoplastics and metal oxide nanoparticles inhibits efflux pumps and causes oxidative stress in zebrafish embryos

Researchers found that combined exposure to nanoplastics and metal oxide nanoparticles in zebrafish embryos inhibited cellular efflux pumps and caused greater oxidative stress than individual exposures, suggesting synergistic toxicity from co-occurring environmental contaminants.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 39 citations
Article Tier 2

The Trojan horse effect of nanoplastics exacerbates methylmercury-induced neurotoxicity during zebrafish development

This zebrafish study showed that 250 nm polystyrene nanoplastics can act as a Trojan horse by enhancing methylmercury accumulation and directing it toward the head and eyes of larvae over 30 days. Combined exposure worsened behavioral impairment and developmental defects beyond what either contaminant caused alone.

2025 Environmental Pollution
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

Neurological Outcomes of Joint Exposure to Polystyrene Micro/Nanospheres and Silver Nanoparticles in Zebrafish

This zebrafish study found that tiny nanoplastics made the brain-damaging effects of silver nanoparticles worse, while larger microplastics had less of an impact. The findings suggest that when nanoplastics combine with other common pollutants, they may create greater risks to the nervous system than either pollutant alone.

2025 Environmental Health Perspectives 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantifying the Amplification of Organophosphate Ester-Induced Visual Risk by Nanoplastics Considering Dual Mechanisms of Vector Effects and Efflux Inhibition

Researchers quantified how nanoplastics amplify the visual toxicity of the flame retardant TDCIPP in zebrafish through two mechanisms: acting as a physical carrier that increases pollutant delivery to tissues, and inhibiting cellular efflux systems that normally expel toxins. They developed a quantitative model to predict the combined risk under realistic environmental conditions. The study reveals that nanoplastics can significantly worsen the harmful effects of co-occurring chemical contaminants through multiple biological pathways.

2026 Environmental Science & Technology
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

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

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

Toxic effect of chronic exposure to polyethylene nano/microplastics on oxidative stress, neurotoxicity and gut microbiota of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polyethylene microplastics and nanoplastics for 21 days and found both caused oxidative damage to organs, disrupted brain function, and altered gut bacteria. Surprisingly, the toxic effects of microplastics and nanoplastics were similar in terms of brain and gut impacts, though organ-level oxidative damage varied by tissue type. These findings are concerning because they show that the plastic particles commonly found in food and water can simultaneously harm the brain, gut, and vital organs.

2023 Chemosphere 76 citations