Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Effect of polystyrene nanoplastics on the intestinal histopathology, oxidative stress, and microbiota of Acrossocheilus yunnanensis

Researchers studied the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on the intestinal health of a freshwater fish species and found significant damage to the gut lining, including ruptured tissue and damaged nutrient-absorbing structures. The nanoplastics also increased oxidative stress markers and shifted the composition of gut bacteria, reducing beneficial species. The findings suggest that nanoplastic exposure can compromise both the physical barrier and microbial balance of fish intestines.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Adverse effects of polystyrene microplastics in the freshwater commercial fish, grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella): Emphasis on physiological response and intestinal microbiome

Researchers exposed grass carp to different sizes and concentrations of polystyrene microplastics for up to 14 days, followed by a depuration period, and assessed physiological and intestinal microbiome effects. The study found that microplastics caused histological damage, oxidative stress, and shifts in gut microbial communities, with smaller particles and higher concentrations producing more severe effects.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 70 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

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

Impact of sub-chronic polystyrene nanoplastics exposure on hematology, histology, and endoplasmic reticulum stress-related protein expression in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Researchers exposed Nile tilapia to polystyrene nanoplastics for an extended period and found the particles caused blood cell changes, tissue damage in the liver and gills, and activated stress responses in cellular structures called the endoplasmic reticulum. Even the lowest concentration tested, which matches levels found in the environment, triggered harmful effects. Since tilapia is one of the most consumed farmed fish worldwide, these results highlight potential food safety concerns from nanoplastic contamination in aquaculture.

2024 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induce endoplasmic reticulum stress, apoptosis and inflammation by disrupting the gut microbiota in carp intestines

Researchers fed carp polystyrene microplastics and found that the particles disrupted their gut bacteria, killing off beneficial species and promoting those linked to diseases. The microplastics triggered a stress response in intestinal cells that led to inflammation, cell death, and tissue damage. Since carp is a widely eaten fish, these gut health effects raise questions about how microplastics in aquatic environments could affect the safety of fish that humans consume.

2023 Environmental Pollution 94 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Virgin Microplastics on Growth, Intestinal Morphology and Microbiota on Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)

Researchers found that exposure to virgin microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations impaired growth, caused intestinal morphological damage, and altered gut microbiota composition in largemouth bass, suggesting that microplastic ingestion poses health risks in commercially important aquaculture species.

2021 Applied Sciences 8 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

Tissue damage, antioxidant capacity, transcriptional and metabolic regulation of red drum Sciaenops ocellatus in response to nanoplastics exposure and subsequent recovery

Researchers exposed red drum fish to polystyrene nanoplastics for seven days and then monitored their recovery over two weeks. They found persistent liver and gill tissue damage along with ongoing oxidative stress even after the nanoplastics were removed from the water. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure can cause lasting harm to marine fish that does not quickly reverse once the exposure ends.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Different effects of nano- and microplastics on oxidative status and gut microbiota in the marine medaka Oryzias melastigma

Researchers compared the effects of nanoplastics and microplastics on oxidative stress and gut microbiota in marine medaka fish. They found that nanoplastics caused more severe oxidative damage and greater disruption to the gut microbial community than larger microplastic particles. The study suggests that particle size plays a critical role in determining the biological impact of plastic pollution on aquatic organisms.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 244 citations
Article Tier 2

The toxicity of polystyrene micro- and nano-plastics on rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus) varies with the particle size and concentration

Scientists exposed rare minnow fish to polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics at different sizes and concentrations and found that both caused growth inhibition, tissue damage, and disrupted gut bacteria. Interestingly, larger microplastics at high concentrations were the most disruptive to gut microbiome communities, while nanoplastics caused more oxidative stress. The study shows that the health effects of plastic particles depend on both their size and amount, and that gut health is a key target of microplastic toxicity.

2024 Aquatic Toxicology 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Size-dependent effects of microplastic on uptake, immune system, related gene expression and histopathology of goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Researchers exposed goldfish to two sizes of polystyrene microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations for 28 days. The study found that microplastics accumulated in gill, liver, and intestine tissues, causing damage that worsened with smaller particle size and higher doses. The results indicate that microplastics trigger oxidative stress and immune responses in fish, with smaller particles posing greater health risks.

2021 Chemosphere 176 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing the impact of dietary polystyrene nanoplastics on growth performance, immunological parameters, and antioxidant defense in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers fed zebrafish diets containing different concentrations of polystyrene nanoplastics for 30 days and observed reduced growth and increased stress markers at higher doses. The study found that nanoplastic exposure triggered oxidative stress, elevated cortisol levels, and altered immune-related gene expression, suggesting potential health impacts on fish from dietary nanoplastic intake.

2024 Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 8 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

Investigating Polystyrene Nano-Plastic Effects on Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) Focusing on mRNA Expression: Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Lipid Metabolism Dynamics

Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics affect the liver of largemouth bass, focusing on endoplasmic reticulum stress and fat metabolism. They found that nanoplastic exposure disrupted normal lipid processing and triggered stress responses in liver cells, altering the expression of genes involved in fat storage and energy regulation. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution in freshwater environments may impair metabolic health in fish.

2024 Fishes 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of a chronic waterborne exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics on the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata): Combining traditional and multi-omics approaches

Researchers exposed gilthead seabream to environmentally relevant and elevated polystyrene nanoplastic concentrations for 28 days, finding no visible tissue damage or blood abnormalities but significant shifts in gut microbiome diversity and dose-dependent changes in plasma metabolites linked to energy metabolism, suggesting subtle long-term risks for aquaculture production.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 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

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate exacerbated the toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics through histological damage and intestinal microbiota dysbiosis in freshwater Micropterus salmoides

Researchers studied the combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and the plasticizer DEHP on juvenile largemouth bass through dietary and waterborne exposure. They found that DEHP worsened the toxic effects of nanoplastics, causing greater tissue damage in the liver and intestines and significant disruption of the gut microbiome. The study suggests that nanoplastics carrying adsorbed chemical pollutants may pose amplified risks to freshwater fish health.

2022 Water Research 60 citations
Article Tier 2

Dietary administration of PVC and PE microplastics produces histological damage, oxidative stress and immunoregulation in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.)

Researchers fed European sea bass diets containing PVC and polyethylene microplastics for three weeks and examined the effects on their organs and immune systems. They found significant tissue damage in the liver and intestine, along with signs of oxidative stress and altered immune function. The study suggests that even short-to-medium-term microplastic ingestion can compromise fish health, with longer exposures potentially leading to irreversible organ damage.

2019 Fish & Shellfish Immunology 244 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on apoptosis, digestive enzymes, and intestinal histological structure and flora of swamp eel (Monopterus albus)

Researchers exposed swamp eels (Monopterus albus) to polystyrene nanoplastics and found inflammation in the liver and intestine, significant gene expression changes in the liver, and shifts in intestinal microbial community composition toward more pathogenic taxa. The results demonstrate that nanoplastic exposure disrupts apoptosis pathways, digestive enzyme activity, and gut microbiome health in this freshwater fish.

2023 Environmental Science Nano 4 citations